Fourth of July Storms Hammer Whitfield County
246 views · Published 5 July 2012 · 1:45 · Indexed 24 September 2026
Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics
by Jana Barnello Severe storms interfered with Fourth of July plans, especially in Whitfield County.Winds knocked over trees and investigators are looking into whether lightning caused two house fires. One Cohutta family lost nearly everything."All I could see was smoke," said Ruth Maples, whose home was damaged by fire Wednesday afternoon.Maples and her mom weren't at their home on Old Cleveland Highway when the fire started during the afternoon storms, but when she saw the smoke, she knew she had to take action."I hurried in, got out of the truck, got my dogs. I had to get one at a time because the smoke was awful."Maples managed to get all four of her dogs out. Then, she turned her attention to the back of the house where she says the flames were the worst, and picked up a hose.Maples couldn't put the fire out on her own, and let the fire department takeover. Investigators think lightning hit the house and started the fire."At least we're alive. That's the main thing."The family is reaching out to the Salvation Army and Red Cross to help replace their belongings. They've lived there for 18 years.
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