Oak Grove, Woodbine firefighters battle house fire on Fifth Street Road

Oak Grove and Woodbine firefighters spent approximately three hours battling a blaze that destroyed a home on Fifth Street Road Monday morning.

Firefighters were paged to the scene near the Interstate 75 bridge at 4:44 a.m.

“Someone on the interstate saw the flames and called 9-1-1,” said Oak Grove Fire Chief Kevin Gibbs.

While the location is in Oak Grove’s district, Woodbine was also paged per the departments’ mutual aid agreement.

Dispatchers said the caller reported the single story home was fully involved. However, no one was inside as it was abandoned.

Gibbs said the first firefighters arrived on the scene at 4:54 a.m.

Flames were shooting through the roof.

“It had spread to several trees and the sage grass nearby,” Gibbs said explaining that firefighters worked to contain the flames before attacking the structure.

Firefighters had the flames knocked down within 45 minutes and were on scene until after 8 a.m. performing salvage and overhaul.

Gibbs said the owner reported that the home had been empty for an extended period and there was not electricity hooked to it.

“It was in pretty bad shape before the fire,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the cause of the fire is unknown, but said there was nothing to indicate arson.

Firefighters were on scene until approximately 8 a.m.

In addition to the firefighters, Whitley EMS responded to the scene.

Traffic on Fifth Street Road was reduced to one lane while firefighters were on the scene.