GOULD — A fire early Saturday destroyed the home of Gould Mayor Earnest Nash, and the state fire marshal’s office will be contacted to help investigate the cause, Nash said.
About 1 a.m., Nash’s 11-year-old son awoke after burning debris fell onto his bed, and he ran to his parents’ room to tell them, Nash said in a telephone interview Saturday night.
By the time Nash returned to his son’s room, it was engulfed in flames, he said.
As he got dressed, his son rounded up his three teenage sisters, Nash said.
“When I went from his room to my room, the smoke got so thick so fast,” he said. “You could feel the heat fromthe smoke.”
Nash, who also works at the city’s Fire Department, went to get the firetruck and began extinguishing the flames, he said.
Everyone escaped unscathed from the home at 305 W. Jefferson St., and firefighters were able to control the blaze about 3:30 a.m., he said. The house was destroyed.
Nash said there was about $80,000 in property damage and $20,000 worth of damage to the home’s contents. The family is staying with Nash’s mother for the time being.
Nash said he thinks the fire began in the attic, but will call the state fire marshal’s office today for help to determine the cause and origin, he said.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 11/26/2012