Cherokee TV

Couple Jumps from Burning Sixes House

CTV STAFF
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Sixes fire Sept 17 couple leaps

A couple escaped the September 17 fire at their Sixes community house by leaping from a porch roof. They were assisted by neighbors at the scene before emergency personnel arrived.

A Sixes community couple jumped to safety from their burning house early Wednesday morning.

They both suffered burns, yet were able to leap from the rapidly burning house.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Tim Cavender said firefighters responded shortly after 2 a.m. to the fire at 521 Sackman Falls Court, located off Sixes Road in The Falls subdivision.

"According to neighbors on the scene, they heard a loud explosion followed by screaming," Cavender said. 

Neighbors of the couple helped the couple escape the blaze, Cavender said.

"The occupants of the house, a 60-year-old male and a female, who appeared to be in her late 50's, were climbing out of their second story bedroom window onto the roof of their front porch," Cavender said. "Because the house was fully involved and the fire was moving quickly, neighbors encouraged the occupants to jump to the ground."

"Once the occupants jumped, neighbors assisted by moving them away from the fire until EMT's and paramedics arrived on the scene," Cavender said.

"The occupants suffered second- and third -degree burns and both were complaining of back pain," Cavender said. "The female also suffered injuries to her ankles due to the fall."

Both were in stable condition when taken by ambulance to the emergency room of Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Cavender said.

The two story house was completely destroyed, Cavender said.

"No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation," Cavender said.