A massive blaze destroyed a home on Mississippi 35 Wednesday morning.
Myron Miller, assistant chief for the Southwest Marion Volunteer Fire Department, said the house belongs to former Columbia Police Chief Carroll Bryant.
It was fully involved when Miller arrived. He said it was a pine house covered by brick, which makes it difficult to cool down the wood.
"When they get hot, it's pretty much a controlled burn," Miller said.
Firefighters were able to save an outshed and prevent spread to another nearby home.
The well-manicured, one-story home at 1879 Mississippi 35 is located about 7 miles south of U.S. 98.
Miller said the homeowners were in town when it started and someone else called in the fire. They had arrived by 10 a.m. and could only watch as their home burned. Relatives and friends came to give support.
Marion County Fire Investigator Aaron Greer, who was helping battle the blaze, got out a dog inside a fence surrounding the home and took him to the other side.
Authorities also used a winch to pull a truck away from the home.
In addition to the Southwest Marion department, the South Marion and Foxworth volunteer fire departments also helped put out the fire.
For more details, see Saturday's edition of the C-P.
