Volunteer fire units from Moselle, Union, Ovett and Johnson were dispatched by Jones County 911 dispatchers to a report of a house fire at 1148 Tower Road on Thursday at 7:22 A.M. with a report of a burn victim at the scene. Union VFD was the first department on scene and advised they had an adult male victim suffering burns over approximately 50 percent of his body with potential inhalation burns as well. In addition, the victim’s home was fully involved in fire. A second alarm dispatched Ellisville Fire Department to the scene with Engine 3 and Ellisville Fire Chief Ronnie McGilberry responding.



According to reports from the scene, the victim was attempting to start a wood stove heater using diesel fuel when an explosion occurred. His clothing was on fire and his cousin, identified as Charlie Parker, pulled him to safety and beat the flames out with his hands. The victim was transported to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg by EMServ Ambulance Service with life-threatening injuries. Charlie Parker was evaluated at the scene by medics from a second EMServ unit, but he declined transport to the hospital. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family members. A unit from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna and Dixie Electric Power Association also responded to the incident. Moselle Fire Chief B.J. Robinson served as incident commander during the fire department response to the fire. The home was deemed a total loss and firefighters were on the scene for nearly two hours conducting firefighting operations. Photos and information – Lance Chancellor, Public Information Officer, Jones County Fire Council.