South Corbin home destroyed in blaze Sunday morning

On a day when many firefighters and first responders were being recognized for service to their communities, firefighters from three local departments battled a blaze near Corbin that they initially feared was far worse than it turned out to be.

Corbin Fire Chief Barry McDonald said that although several occupants were at home when the blaze broke out, fortunately none were injured.

The fire was reported about 11:15 a.m. Sunday at 70 Crawford Lane.

McDonald said the family told firefighters that they thought the blaze started with a three-year-old playing with a candle, and that everyone was home when it broke out.

"They had stuff piled all in it, and stored up in it. Mobile homes go real fast," McDonald said.

When firefighters arrived the older model mobile home was completely engulfed in flames and firefighters quickly started spraying two propane tanks near the outside of the residence in order to keep them from exploding.

Firefighters expected to find a far worst scene when they first arrived.

The blaze was initially reported as a fire at Crawford Lane Apartments with people still inside, McDonald said.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered that the blaze was at the mobile home instead, but there were a few tense minutes because they family couldn’t find their 10-year-old son.

"We finally found him. He went running down the road yelling the place was on fire. The ambulance stopped, picked him up and brought him back up here," McDonald added.

Over a half a dozen fire trucks and more than a dozen firefighters responded to the scene from Corbin, Oak Grove and Woodbine fire departments.

Whitley County EMS examined the family members at the scene.

The home was completely destroyed, and an SUV parked next to it suffered major damage.

The Corbin Police Department and Kentucky State Police also assisted at the scene.