8-Alarm Fire Summons 51 Firefighters

Orange flames lighted the Shawnee Shores addition Friday night until 51 firefighters brought the area’s largest fire in recent history under control.

The eight-alarm blaze brought two homes to the ground and damaged a third while the volunteers from eight departments prevented the fire from spreading to other homes in the addition. Two firefighters collapsed from the intense heat. One of them, Peyton Settles, was taken to Hunt Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Quinlan Fire Chief Steve Bowen said in addition to those three homes, the fire "also destroyed a shed located behind a fourth house. This house received only minor scorching to the paint."

Firefighters were called to the scene at 9:02 p.m.

"When the first firefighters arrived on scene, the house where it appears the fire originated, 9719 Shawnee Ln., occupied by Paul and Shirley Culley, was fully involved in fire," Bowen said.

He said the fire had also already spread to the house next door at 9715 Shawnee Ln. when the first responders arrived on the scene. He said that house was occupied by Jeff and Amanda McShane.

The fire chief said, "The fire then spread to a two-story house, located next door on the opposite side, which was not occupied." He said damage to that house was all exterior and was minimal. Bowen said the exterior siding burned and windows were broken from exposure to the heat of the house next door burning.

"All three of these homes were rental properties owned by Randy Dixon," Bowen said.

The fire chief said the eight department responded with 12 fire trucks. The departments on scene were Quinlan, Tawakoni South, West Tawakoni, Cash, Able Springs, Union Valley, Lone Oak and Caddo Mills.

"Also responding were multiple volunteers from the American Red Cross to assist with rehab of firefighters and to help the families," Bowen said. He said FEC electric was on scene due to multiple live power lines on the ground when the first units arrived, and Combined Consumers Special Utility District employees took care of broken and leaking pipes inside the houses that burned.

Two other homes were damaged by fire during the week.

Firefighters were called to 9783 Private Road 3792 in King Script Cove on Monday.

Bowen said the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department unit "arrived to find one room involved in fire, and the fire was spreading to the hallway. The fire was contained to that area of the residence, although the rest of the house had smoke damage. The house is owned by Tracy Peters and was not occupied."

Units from Quinlan, West Tawakoni and Tawakoni South departments responded to the fire.

The third fire was at 9153 Bouncer Rd.

Bowen said, "The fire destroyed a two-story house that was unoccupied. The fire was responded to by the Quinlan, West Tawakoni, and Tawakoni South VFDs."

The fire chief said, "When the first Quinlan unit arrived, they found the second story fully involved in fire, and the fire had already spread into the downstairs area of the house. The fire ignited the grass around the house, which caused it to spread to a mobile home located immediately next door on the same property."

Bowen said damage to the mobile home was minimal. "This fire is still under investigation by the county fire marshal," he said.