The Red Cross is assisting a Benson family after the home they were renting went up in flames Thursday afternoon.
Around 1:30pm, Alexander Williams smelled smoke inside the home at 1893 Stone Creek Road, Benson and discovered the fire. Williams fled from the home and called 911.
Members of the Blackman’s Crossroads, Strickland’s Crossroads, Meadow, Benson, and Four Oaks Fire Departments responded to the scene to battle the blaze. The home was up a small, winding dirt road and through dense woods about a half mile off Stone Creek Road. Crews had to draw water from a nearby pond to extinguish the fire.
Williams was not injured in the fire. One other person was staying in the home with Williams but was not there when the fire broke out. The Johnston County Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the occupants who lost nearly all of their belongings.
Assistant Johnston County Fire Marshal B. Wallace said the cause of the fire remains under investigation but it does not appear to be suspicious. The home was declared a total loss.
According to Mark Dunn, assistant chief of the Blackman’s Crossroad Fire Department, the house was surrounded by nearly five miles of woods, making it imperative the flames were contained as quickly as possible.
Paramedics stood by to treat firefighters working in the extreme heat.
Photo courtesy The Daily Record
