Fire damages, destroy two homes

Fire crews responded to two major house fires over the last week that left the families of those homes with major losses, and several smaller incidents.

A single-wide trailer on NE Beamon Road was virtually destroyed by a fire that was caused by an electrical problem. It was the first use of the fire department's rural fire truck. Officers of the department had been training on the truck when the fire call came in.

The home of Daniel and Rebecca McCallum was destroyed in the fire. "They pretty much lost everything," Fire Chief Phil Gridley said, estimating the loss of the trailer and its contents at about $10,000.

Fire crews assisted the family with their burnout fund. The Red Cross also quickly stepped up to help the family. A Rebecca McCallum House Burnout Fund has been set up at Pioneer Federal Credit Union to help the family.

On Sunday night, March 23, fire crews responded to a blaze at 1120 N. 9th East St. that severely damaged a home being rented by a family (not immediately identified).

The fire began in an electrical panel in the basement of the home and quickly spread into the walls and ceiling beneath the main floor of the house. The house suffered extensive smoke and fire damage, which was estimated at $10,000. Although the home had smoke detectors, they were not working at the time of the fire.

The Red Cross provided temporary housing for the couple and their infants.

Fire crews also extinguished a dumpster fire Sunday and two car fires last Friday, one in the Albertson's parking lost and one at the Maverick station in town.