A heater is thought to have possibly sparked a fire that severely damaged and gutted a wood frame home just north of Jasper on Sunday morning.
The volunteers of the Jasper Fire Department were dispatched to the location about four miles north of Jasper on Highway 96, shortly before noon, when a passing motorist reported that smoke was coming from the attic of the single story structure. However, shortly after the Jasper Firefighters arrived, they immediately called for help form both the East End and Lake Rayburn Fire Departments.
The owner of the home, Stanley Sanchez said he was in the process of remodeling the residence. Sanchez said he went to the home a few hours before to work, but realizing how cold it was in the house, turned on the heater and left with plans of returning.
The firemen from all three departments were hampered by the wind and it took almost an hour to finally bring fire under control.
The fire was far away from any fire hydrants and the firefighters had to deploy a large drop tank at the scene, prompting the closure of the northbound lane of Highway 96 for some time.
No injuries resulted from the incident.