Albany family escapes early morning blaze

ALBANY — Three members of an Albany family narrowly escaped an early morning fire Monday after a resident was awakened by the smell of smoke.

According to reports the Albany Fire Department responded to a fire at a residence on the 500 block of West Gordon Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Monday, arriving to find the home engulfed in flames.

Albany Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Reuben Jordan said when firefighters arrived at the scene fire could be seen front the front of the residence and exiting through the roof. Jordan said it took firefighters less than 10 minutes to get the fire extinguished but, by then, an estimated $15,000 in damage had been done.

Jordan said an investigation indicates the fire appears to have originated when a lit log from the fireplace rolled onto the living room floor igniting flammable materials in the area.

The residents of the home, 82-year-old Eunice Bankston, her son, Douglas McCray, 52, and McCray’s 21-year-old daughter, Tierica Atkins, were all unharmed in the incident, although one firefighter did sprain his ankle while carrying equipment from a fire truck, Jordan said.

Jordan also stressed that residents should be extremely careful when heating their homes with a fireplace using wood.

“If you’re going to use a live fireplace, make sure the logs are fully extinguished before going to bed,” said Jordan. “You can’t go to bed with a lit fireplace.”