Morning fire burns two homes

Investigators are looking into a Thursday night fire that damaged two home on Russell Drive.

Skyline Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the scene of the two homes, which are side by side, around 11:50 p.m. and were on the scene until 3 a.m. Friday morning.

A State Fire Marshall Investigator was collecting evidence at the scene of the two fires, but a report will not be available until two weeks from now at the earliest.

A family pet alerted one of the residents, Paula Eagen.

“The dogs started barking and acting strange,” said Eagen, who lives at 5562 Russell Drive. “I turned the porch light on and saw the umbrella and front of the house on fire.

“The first thing I did was to make sure everyone got out of the house safely.”

The second fire at the home of Gil Reid, also started at the front of his home.

“My fire alarm went off and when I went to check what was going on my front door was on fire,” said Reid. “This is the second fire I have had happen in the last three years.”

When asked if he thought the fire could have been arson in reference to the first fire, Reid commented, “The Fire Marshall seems to think it was, but I never got a final report.”

Assisting at the scene were units from Avalon, Bagdad and Pace, while Ferry Pass was on stand-by in case something else occurred in Santa Rosa County.

For many of the volunteers Thursday was a long night before the two houses caught fire.

“We have been going since around 8 p.m.,” said Chief Tim Diamond, with Skyline Fire and Rescue. “There was a shed fire and a house fire in Milton tonight and we assisted the city on an activated fire alarm and a vehicle accident on Stewart Street.

“We also had an oak tree to deal with tonight on Munson Highway.”

Avalon and Bagdad units also responded to a lightning strike earlier on Jabot Road.

Despite all of the activities, no injuries were reported as of press time.