Home a Total Loss After Monday Fire

A home on FM 609 south of La Grange burned Monday afternoon, April 19.

La Grange Volunteer Fire Department got the call around 3 p.m. Flames were already pouring out of the windows when the first firefighters arrived. It was a total loss.

Jean Zavoda owns the home and lives in a separate house on the same wooded property. She rented the house that burned to Peter Leighton. Leighton and his family lost nearly all of their personal belongings. Three pets were also missing after the fire.

Zavoda said the home was built around 1996 and it was insured.

La Grange VFD responded with a fire engine, a tanker and two brush trucks. La Grange Fire Chief Frank Menefee called for mutual aid from Flatonia Fire and Rescue, which sent an additional tanker and engine. In all, 17 firefighters from the two departments responded. The two tankers hauled water from La Grange to supply firefighters at the property. The two departments brought the blaze under control about an hour after arrival. Firefighters remained on scene until around 6:48 p.m. putting out hot spots. Menefee said no one knew how the fire started.

“Based on the damage, it appears the fire could have started around the rear of the building,” Menefee said.

The wall on the back side of the house partially collapsed in the blaze.

Leighton reported that two cats and a dog were inside the house. Menefee said firefighters searched but could not find pets. However, a portion of the metal roof also collapsed, and Menefee said firefighters were unable to search under there.

Fayette County EMS and Deputy Joe Gonzales of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office also assisted at the scene. No one required medical treatment.