A Dallas Bay homeowner will be meeting with American Red Cross officials for temporary housing due a fire at his residence on Saturday.
At 10:15 a.m., the homeowner, Brian Smelley, awoke to the sound of frantic pounding on his front door. While approaching the door, he saw smoke coming from the back of his house. He opened the front door to his neighbor yelling, "Get out of the house! Your garage is on fire!"
Before exiting his home, Smelley went back inside to search for his six-year-old Siberian Huskey, Chief. He found him in another bedroom hunkered down on the floor. They both escaped without injury.
When Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department arrived at 261 Serena Drive, they reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the left front side of the home. Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire to the garage area.
Mr. Smelley reported to fire officials, he got up early this morning to do some laundry and turned on the space heater to warm up the laundry room. He went back to bed for a while until he was awakened by the pounding on his front door.
No injuries were reported, but Hamilton County EMS was on the scene for any potential injuries to firefighters. The cause of the fire is undetermined and will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Damages are listed at $50,000. Firefighters did save three antique cars and the right side of the house. Mr. Smelley was insured.
The Red Bank Fire Department and Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department responded to the Dallas Bay Area to cover their district for any additional emergency calls.