SHERIDAN, AR – Right now, the body of a person killed in a fire Friday night in Grant County is at the state crime lab. We won’t know the cause of the fire, or the name of that person, until at least Monday. That’s according to Calvert Township Volunteer Fire Chief Everette Watson.
Chief Watson also tells FOX16 that Friday night’s fire took a toll on his men and women. The fire started around 9 p.m. It was Watson’s first fatal fire as the Calvert Township Volunteer Fire Chief.
“It’s very emotional,” said Watson.
When Watson’s men and women got to the home on the 11,000 block of Highway 167 South in Grant County near Sheridan, they quickly realized they had to start a rescue mission. Someone was trapped inside and was still alive.
Firefighters pulled the victim out of the flames, but it was too late. They found the body eight feet away from the front door.
“For the fireman that was here first actually heard the victim, so it was very prying on him and I’ve already got him in contact with the chaplain and support there,” says Watson.
It took firefighters from several departments an hour and fifteen minutes to put out the flames. Watson says that’s quick work for a fire of this size.
“You just worry about your guys going in. I mean, when you roll up, you send guys into a burning structure as the chief you’re worried about their safety. That’s number one on our list,” he says.
For now, Watson can’t tell us anything about the person who lost their life Friday night because this fatal fire is now an open investigation.
“You don’t ever forget them. You don’t ever forget a fire, so you know, they stick in your mind like an auto wreck, they stick in your mind,” says Watson.
Watson says the name of the person killed in the fire won’t be released until Monday at the earliest.
Chief Watson also tells FOX16 that Friday night’s fire took a toll on his men and women. The fire started around 9 p.m. It was Watson’s first fatal fire as the Calvert Township Volunteer Fire Chief.
“It’s very emotional,” said Watson.
When Watson’s men and women got to the home on the 11,000 block of Highway 167 South in Grant County near Sheridan, they quickly realized they had to start a rescue mission. Someone was trapped inside and was still alive.
Firefighters pulled the victim out of the flames, but it was too late. They found the body eight feet away from the front door.
“For the fireman that was here first actually heard the victim, so it was very prying on him and I’ve already got him in contact with the chaplain and support there,” says Watson.
It took firefighters from several departments an hour and fifteen minutes to put out the flames. Watson says that’s quick work for a fire of this size.
“You just worry about your guys going in. I mean, when you roll up, you send guys into a burning structure as the chief you’re worried about their safety. That’s number one on our list,” he says.
For now, Watson can’t tell us anything about the person who lost their life Friday night because this fatal fire is now an open investigation.
“You don’t ever forget them. You don’t ever forget a fire, so you know, they stick in your mind like an auto wreck, they stick in your mind,” says Watson.
Watson says the name of the person killed in the fire won’t be released until Monday at the earliest.
