Blaze heavily damages residence in Arcadia

July 29--Firefighters with A-RC-H Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the fire about 11:45 a.m. A spokesman with A-RC-H Fire and Rescue said no one appeared to be in the residence at the time of the fire.

Multiple fire departments, including Midway, Griffith, Arcadia, Welcome, West Lexington and Reeds, are on the scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Doris Tharpe and her daughter, Devae Tharpe, lived at the residence. Doris Tharpe was coming back from a bloodwork appointment when she was notified of the blaze. The Tharpes were unsure if their cat and dog died in the fire.

Doris Tharpe has lived at the house for about eight years. She was sure she has insurance on the home but doesn't think the coverage will cover the entire house. Doris Tharpe doesn't know what caused the fire.

"My house is totaled?" Tharpe asked a reporter while on the scene. "I just got some new furniture to go in there. ... I know that's immaterial."

Sydney Baucom is Doris Tharpe's 11-year-old granddaughter. She lives a couple of houses down from her grandmother's home.

Sydney heard an explosion, which she explained sounded like a bomb. She ran down to her grandmother's home. With the garage engulfed in flames, the granddaughter tried to find a key to get in the residence. She eventually entered the residence through the back door and screamed for the family dog, Sammy.

Davidson County EMS is on the scene assisting multiple fire departments.

Check back for more details.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick

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