Pittsburg firefighters assist in Midway fire

Two units from the Pittsburg Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Midway on Monday. Fire Chief Carl Cravey said the exact location and in which county was not determined until the Pittsburg units arrived. Units from Gilmer, Bettie, and Ewell arrived soon after. One of the Pittsburg units returned to base as unneeded.

Gilmer Fire Chief Jerry Taylor said the fire was toned out at 2:53 p.m. at 9374 Highway 271 North, a quarter mile north of the Midway Truck Stop.

“We sent an engine, a tanker and a command vehicle,” Taylor said. “It was probably 50-60 percent involved when we pulled up on the scene. Over half the house was on fire.”

The structure was an occupied house, but the family was not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries, Taylor said.

The four departments fought the fire together and the blaze was brought under control and cleared at 3:52 p.m. The Pittsburg engine was released and returned home. The last unit – from Ewell – cleared the scene at 4:30 p.m.

“It was a total loss,” Taylor said. “I put the damage estimate at $95,000.”

Taylor said the cause of the fire is under investigation.