FREDERICKTOWN — A wood-burning stove set fire to the Willie Grogg home at 16990 Divelbiss Road on Saturday night. A pizza delivery driver stopped after seeing flames in window, and called 9-1-1 at 7:58 p.m.
The Fredericktown Community Fire Department responded. Chief Scott Mast said when firefighters arrived, fire was coming out all of the windows on the north side of the 1 1/2-story frame house.
Firefighters beat back the fire to the origin, and were able to save part of the house, Mast said. He added that although some of the home probably is salvageable, the rest of the house has heavy fire and smoke damage. He estimated the damage at $80,000. The home is located about a half mile north of Lower Fredericktown-Amity Road.
Nineteen firefighters answered the alarm, with three engines. The Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District sent a tanker for mutual aid. Mast said firefighters had plenty of water, including a dry hydrant less than a mile away at the home of Grogg’s brother. The Grogg family, the parents and three children, had left the home at 7 p.m., only to see their house burning upon their return.
The freezing temperature created a sheet of ice on the short, steep gravel driveway, making footing treacherous for the firefighters. However, there no injuries.
On Sunday, the Groggs had family and friends helping them rearrange their lives. Grogg said they had several places available to move, and were sorting out their options.
