Pets perish in fire that destroys Versailles home
Arson is cause of three alarm blaze
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A house fire that claimed the lives of family pets and destroyed everything a Versailles family owned was intentionally set, according to Lt. Chuck Gunter, lead fire investigator for the Versailles Fire Department.

The determination was made Monday afternoon, following an investigation by the Versailles Fire Department and State Deputy Fire Marshal Jim Skaggs. There is a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist. Call the toll free tip line at 1-800-382-4628 with any information you might have that would help investigators solve this crime.

Firemen were on the scene for more than five hours on Sunday, as they battled the blaze that was enhanced by high winds.

Three fire departments, Versailles, Osgood, and Dillsboro, responded to a house at 476 Tanglewood Road in Versailles about 3:37 p.m. on Sunday, February 20. "When we arrived, which was less than six minutes from the initial call, the structure was at least 80 percent engulfed in flames," noted Gunter.

The two-story frame home was owned by Mary Ann Wise-Castner of Versailles, and rented by Diane Phillips, who resided there with two teenage children and family pets.

In an interview with the Osgood Journal on Monday morning, Phillips said, "Everything is gone." Everything included family pets, possibly a dog and some cats. She noted that a black and white part lab/terrier is still missing. "She's a fat old dog," she noted, adding her name is Jazzie, if anyone sees her. It's possible the dog took off running when the fire broke out.

Phillips and her daughter Rachel, 18, and son Michael, 16, moved to the Tanglewood home on March 1, of last year. She said although they have lost everything they owned, they are thankful they weren't home at the time of the fire and no one was injured. Still very shaken on Monday morning from the incident, Phillips noted, "I just keep telling myself, it was just stuff."

The Phillips family stayed with family members overnight. "We are thankful for what the Red Cross is doing and just to everyone who has been helpful," Phillips noted.

How you can help.

Charlene Haggis has begun an effort to help the family, saying her son and Michael, are friends and both attend South Ripley High School.

"I've got a full basement with plenty of room to store things for them," noted Haggis. She is willing for people to bring any type of house hold item to her residence at 4082 S. County Road 350 W, Versailles. They can also call her at 689-3668. Cash donations are also being taken through Haggis.

Clothing sizes for the children are women's size 9-10 or 11-12 pants, medium shirts, and women's shoes - size 7 1/2. Boys clothes are needed for Michael, size 14-18 boys, X-large in boys or small in men's, his shoe size is 9.

"They just need everything," Haggis noted, saying anything from dishes to furniture would be appreciated.

A Bake Sale is being organized and will be held Sunday, March 6, at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Versailles Super Valu, according to Haggis. Anyone wanting to donate items or help out with the sale is encouraged to call Haggis. All proceeds will benefit the Phillips family.

According to South Ripley High School Principal Bill Snyder, a fundraiser has been launched this week in grades 7-12 to help the Phillips family. Michael is a sophomore at the school. "We're having a week long Penny Drive," he noted, saying the class with the most pennies and dollars at the end of the week will qualify for Spirit Points. At the end of the year, the class with the most Spirit Points will be rewarded with a party. In the meantime, the class brining in the most money for this fundraiser will be given juice and donuts, compliments of Elrod Grain.

Students will get instant rewards with a candy bar for every dollar they donate. "We're hoping to generate several hundred dollars by the end of the week," concluded Snyder.

Second fire on same road.

The residence at 476 Tanglewood is the second house to be completely destroyed by fire on that road in less than two weeks. The previous fire occurred on February 10, at a duplex just a few doors down on the opposite side of Tanglewood.

Responding to the scene on Sunday along with the fire departments were the Versailles Police Department, Red Cross, Versailles Fire Department Women's Auxiliary, utilities and Rescue 69.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Firefighters from the Versailles, Osgood, and Dillsboro fire departments were on the scene of this house fire at 476 Tanglewood Road in Versailles on Sunday, February 20. The house was a total loss with investigators saying the fire was intentionally set.