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Fire Response Time Causes Concerns In Marion County

546 views · Published 8 April 2013 · 2:31 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2013 · News & Politics

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By Jerry Askin, @JerryAskin NC9  A Marion County man watches as his home burns to the ground in a Monday morning house fire.We're digging deeper to find out why it takes 45 minutes for fire crews responsible for his area to get there.My son scared me, he started screaming and yelling and I got up. He said the house was on fire, says Terry Mills.If it wasn't for his dog barking, Terry Mills says he and his son never would've known their home was on fire. He salvaged what he could. I took clothes, couch, some pictures, just small items, says Mills. 51 years of his life savings now remain in the now charred home.It seemed like within 10 minutes, that whole side was on fire, and then the fire department got here, and it seems like it all just swept down this way, says Mills. It took 25 minutes before any fire crews got there.   But those crews, were only mutual aid, helping out, from nearby Sequatchie and Hamilton County.   Terry's home is actually in Marion County, and the closest fire department in the county is 45 minutes away. We're in a corner of Marion County, and it's not a direct road. They have to go through Sequatchie County or Hamilton County to get up here, so it would be a problem, says neighbor Dan Hicks.Monday, we took the issue to the the Suck Creek Volunteer Fire chief in Marion County.We do the best we can, but our main thing is mutual aid, Lone Oak and Waldens Ridge because they're close and we'll just get there the best we can, says Chief Benjamin Lewis from the Suck Creek Volunteer Fire Department.We got the recording of Terry's call to 911.  We learned because he lives on the border of the two counties, Sequatchie county answered then transferred him to Marion. As for Terry, he's trying to make the most of this tragedy. They showed up, they did the best they could, that's the risk you take living out far like this, says Mills. There's no word now on what officially caused the fire.  We're told the fire started in the attic.  Depend on us to let you know when we find out.

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