TX Firefighter's Home Burns While He Fought Another House Fire

Dec. 31, 2018
Two dried-out Christmas trees fueled a fire that destroyed an Allen firefighter's home as he was on duty fighting another blaze.

Flames destroyed the home of an Allen firefighter early Thursday while he was out battling another blaze.

Jeremy West got a frantic call from his wife about 3:30 a.m. while he was helping to extinguish a house fire, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported. West rushed home, but only some clothing could be salvaged, the station reported.

"We've grown pretty close ... so it is tough," Capt. Matt Madding told KTVT-TV (Channel 11). "To see a fellow brother like that hurting, it hurts all of us." West's wife made it out safely. Their four children had been spending the night at their grandmother's house. "We have each other," West told NBC5. "We have all the support. That's all we need."

Investigators said the blaze was spread by two dried-out Christmas trees, but the cause of the fire has not been determined, NBC5 reported. The Allen Professional Firefighters Association is collecting donations to help the West family.

___ (c)2018 The Dallas Morning News

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