One house destroyed, another damaged
Published 12:00 am Friday, August 23, 2002
Vicksburg Fire Department Battalion Chief Donell Wince hands firefighter Rick Martin a chainsaw as crews battle a blaze that destroyed an apparently abandoned home and damaged another this morning on Wood Street. The fire started at 1322 Wood St. about 6:30 a.m. and spread to 1326 Wood St., another apparently abandoned house next door, firefighters said. Three fire engines responded, and Wince said it took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out the fire. Fire Chief Keith Rogers said neighbors reported vagrants were possibly living in the house that was destroyed, which had no electricity service. No one was found in either structure. One firefighter fell about five feet and was nearly injured when stairs to the front of the house collapsed, Rogers said. Wood Street, about one-half-mile-long, runs between Olive and Court streets near First North Street. (The Vicksburg Post/C. Todd Sherman)