By Kelly Kazek
kelly@athensnews-courier.com
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When Chris Crable arrived at his Stewart Road home Sunday morning after a night away, he sensed nothing amiss — until he stepped inside.
His home had burned from the inside, destroying its contents, but the fire had burned itself out from lack of oxygen, saving the structure.
“Unless you walk around to the back, you couldn’t even tell the house was on fire,” said Crable, who is assistant chief for the Athens-Limestone Fire & Rescue Squad.
He called 911 at about 10:45 a.m. Sunday and firefighters from Tanner Volunteer Fire Department arrived to ensure the fire was out. The cause was likely electrical, he said.
Crable owns the one-story home he shares with a roommate.
An insurance agent who came to inspect the home following the fire told Crable the home was airtight, forcing the blaze to extinguish.
“He said if a window had broken or air had gotten in, the whole house would have been gone up in seconds, it was so hot,” Crable said.
He said the fire began in a bedroom and burned slowly, melting smoke alarms, picture frames and a television and leaving thick soot and smoke damage.
“I lost everything,” Crable said.
Crable’s roommate, Gaston Cole, had several hundred dollars in rent money in his room to pay Crable. The cash, plus some Crable had, also burned.
Crable is living with a friend.
Friends of Crable have set up an account in his name at Bank Independent. Those who wish to help may go to any local branch of Bank Independent and donate in Chris Crable’s name.
