Elmore County Mayor's Home Damaged in Fire

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By Tamika Bickham

Story Created: Feb 2, 2012 at 10:23 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 3, 2012 at 12:18 AM CDT

Fire breaks out at a house in Coosada. The homeowner is the town's mayor.

Mayor Jon Chapman wasn't home when the blaze broke out just around 3p.m. Thursday afternoon, but his wife and son were. They smelled something burning and that's when Chapman got the call.

"She was very upset and I basically found out my house was burning down while she was talking to me," said Chapman.

The fire chief says this is how it all started, from this lawnmower that was still just a little too hot. The grass underneath it caught on fire and the flames spread from there.

"The grass splinters can get up around the exhaust, around the motor. Even though it can be damp, they can dry up due to the heat," said Coosada Fire Chief, Ed Gray.

The fire was quickly maintained and most importantly, no one was hurt.

The mayor is also the headmaster of Chapman Christian Academy that's just right next door. He says children's safety was never at risk because the school had already let out for the day.

"It could be a lot worse than this," he said.

Coosada Fire Chief Ed Gray, who works closely with the mayor, this day wasn't just any other day on the job.

"It does hit close to home, being on both sides, having to put the fire out with our mayor. It hits close to home. We are going to do everything to assist him," he said.

Chief Gray says the home isn't a total loss, but about 45 percent of it is destroyed.

Although the family is unable to stay in their home, they won't have to go far. Chapman's mother lives just across the street, so they plan to stay there in the meantime.

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