By By LYDIA GRIMES – Features writer
Smoke alarms proved to be a worthy investment for members of a Brewton family who were awakened by their alarm Tuesday morning. Fortunately, none of them were injured in a fire that destroyed their home and several vehicles.
The McCorvey family, whose home is located at 72 Oak Road off Kirkland Road, was awakened about 2:30 a.m. when the smoke alarms sounded. They found one end of their home fully engulfed in flames, which were leaping onto the hillside behind the house. Joe McCorvey tried to call 911 and found that the telephone lines were down. In the meantime, one of his neighbors woke up and made the call to the Brewton Fire Department, which quickly responded.
Brewton Fire Chief Lawrence Weaver said that two engines, EMS and a rescue truck, along with 13 firefighters, including himself, responded to the call and found the house, four vehicles and two motorcycles were all on fire. The flames had spread to the hill behind the house and the wind was making the problem even worse.
As of about 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the fire department was waiting for a fire inspector to come to try to determine the cause of the blaze.
For some time after the fire department arrived, it was feared that the family dog had perished in the fire. Family members asked the firefighters to search for the dog in the area where he usually was kept, but no trace of the dog was found. It was only later in the morning when it was found at a neighbor's house down the street.
Joe, Melinda and Joy McCorvey all credit the smoke alarms as having saved their lives. They had several installed and made sure the batteries were good and they believe it made all the difference.
Melinda McCorvey was very calm as she explained her feelings about the fire. She said she had been having trouble with her back and was supposed to see a specialist Tuesday in Mobile, but her x-rays were destroyed in the fire.
Weaver said that the department is investigating to find the cause of the fire that destroyed the McCorvey home.