Fire destroys Garland County home; no injuries reported

A single-family residence in the 4000 block of Albert Pike in Garland County was destroyed by fire early Friday and propane bottles inside the home reportedly caused several explosions, Piney Fire Chief Scott Miser told The Sentinel-Record.

Piney firefighters at 2:48 a.m. received a 911 call of “a fully involved house fire” at 4053 Albert Pike, Miser said, noting they were told while en route everyone was out of the house and there was a vehicle and shed in “immediate danger.”

Firefighters arrived to find a wood-frame, single-family residential dwelling “fully involved in flames,” he said.

It was confirmed everyone got out safely and no injuries were reported, Miser said.

Two engines and two tankers were deployed by Piney with 12 firefighters, and 70 West Fire Department sent firefighters to assist, he said, noting they had the fire “under control within about 15 minutes of arrival.”

He said it took a few more hours to do salvage and overhaul the scene. While the official cause of the fire is still under investigation, Miser said the homeowner told him it appeared to be an electrical fire that started in the kitchen.

“The house was a total loss,” Miser said, noting the home was reportedly “fully involved 100%” when the homeowner called 911. Several propane bottles stored in the house caused explosions as the fire progressed.

Friday’s fire was the second fire involving explosions caused by propane this week in western Garland County. A residential shop in Pearcy was heavily damaged by fire late Wednesday after an explosion reportedly caused by a propane leak blew debris over 200 feet.

The fire at the shop, located in the Hilltop Road area, was reported shortly before 9:30 p.m. and extinguished by 70 West firefighters, Fire Chief Autumn Carlisle said Thursday.