Fire destroys apartment, kills pets on The Murfreesboro Post

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Fire destroys apartment, kills pets

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:32 pm

A Murfreesboro family lost more than its home, when its apartment caught fire Tuesday afternoon.

Louis Teesdale and her daughter Terrilynn, a Riverdale High School student, also lost their beloved pets, dog Ziggy and cat Amber, in the blaze that claimed their Indian Park apartment. No person was injured in the fire.

“At this time, it’s still an ongoing investigation,” Murfreesboro Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Roger Tombs said, adding the second floor balcony appears to be the point of origin.

To see a Photo Gallery of the fire, click here.

The fire destroyed the second floor of Teesdale’s apartment and two to four other apartments in the building are lost also, Tombs said.

Eight families, comprising about 20 people, are without a home tonight as the origin of the fire is investigated, Murfreesboro Assistant Fie Chief Allan Swader said. The families have been in contact with the Red Cross.

Tombs said the fire was contained quickly, thanks to the work of Murfreesboro firefighters and a firewall between the apartments.

Murfreesboro Fire Chief Gary Farley said the full extent of the damage and the fire’s cause is unknown at this time, but more details should come to light soon.

Murfreesboro Fire Department received the call at 1:34 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, when Kathleen Scruggs, 11, called 911.

Scruggs said she was outside playing with friends when she saw flames from the apartment.

“I turned around and it was on fire,” she said, adding it was scary, but she gathered her nerves and called for help.

“I was shaking and she (the 911 dispatcher) said the fire department was on the way,” Scruggs said.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under FIRE, Red Cross

Member Opinions:

By: Wandawoo on 12/30/08
Can we help the families in any way?

By: HuskyLover on 12/30/08
What a shame. I sure hope all those affected have renter's insurance.

By: MichelleWillard on 12/30/08
The best way to help families affected by fire is to donate to the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross at 893-4272 or visit www.midtnredcross.org.

By: ItIsMeAgain on 12/30/08
What quick thinking by the 11 year old. Way to keep it together and help out, Miss Scruggs! Your family should be proud. Good job!