An Atlantic woman and her two children escaped from their home moments before it was engulfed in flames this (Thursday) morning. Emergency communications officials received a 9-1-1 hang-up call from 905 Hazel Street at three o’clock this morning. Atlantic Police Lieutenant Steve Greene was the first to arrive on the scene and he immediately discovered the front of the structure was engulfed in flames.
Greene knocked on the doors and made sure everyone was out of the home. Fortunately, residents Carrie Lillard and her children, one and two-and-a-half years of age, had already gotten out safely. Atlantic Fire Chief Steve Curtis says the house was already gutted when they arrived moments later.
Firefighters fought flames whipped by brisk southwesterly winds for over three hours. During that time they patrolled the neighborhood checking for flame-ups caused by sparks and embers tossed into the air as the structure began to collapse. The home was a total loss, but no injuries were reported. A cause for the blaze has not yet been established.