As Vicksburg dealt with power outages across the city due to Saturday’s inclement weather, Vicksburg Fire Department was on the scene of a structure fire that is believed to have ignited when wind dropped a tree limb onto a power line above a vacant cottage just off Hicks Alley, located between Cherry and Drummond streets.

Vicksburg Fire Chief Derrick Stamps said firefighters responded to the call just after 6 p.m. and had the fire fully extinguished by approximately 9:15 p.m.

“At approximately 6:30 p.m., the Vicksburg Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 1700 Ponderosa Lane,” Stamps said. “Upon arrival, firefighters encountered flames and heavy smoke from the structure. Firefighters initiated an interior attack to combat the fire. Despite facing challenging weather conditions,  the firefighters  extinguished the fire and, fortunately, no injuries were reported.”

Stamps said the building could not be salvaged, but firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

“The fire appeared to have originated from a fallen tree limb that had landed on a power line supplying electricity to the structure,” he said. “The structure was a total loss.”