Neighbors reported a fire Tuesday night which resulted in the total destruction of a Bangs woman’s home in the 5900 block of County Road 151.
The homeowner, Sheila Brown, stated that she had lived at the house since 2006, when she moved onto the property that has been in her family since the 1940s. The two bedroom home which once was a spot of quiet country life is now a heap of rubble, most of its contents unidentifiable.
Brown had been at the house just hours before the fire ignited to feed some calves she had recently bought for her own granddaughter to enjoy and to pick up her two Chihuahuas before heading to her daughter’s home in Brownwood to help do a little fixing up there. She was called by emergency dispatch around 9:15 p.m. with the news that her home was on fire. In tears Wednesday morning, Brown said she couldn’t believe this had happened to her home.
“I loved this place,” Brown stated as she recalled days of coming out to the land with her grandfather to feed the cattle as a young girl. “I was his little tag-along.”
She explained that they had the property since the 1940s and that her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Perry, lived in Brownwood until their passing in 2005. Brown had moved from Abilene to help care for her ailing grandparents. Having met many friends, she stated she just stayed, eventually moving the house onto the property in 2006. Brown works as the manager of Corina’s restaurant at Lake Brownwood and stated that she loves the area, that she has made more friends in the Brownwood area than she had in over 50 years in Abilene.
“I met so many nice people, I just stayed,” Brown said.
Brown pointed to the rubble and explained how the house once sat. “I faced the front door toward the barn. My friends all asked why I faced it away from the road, but I wanted it to face the barn. That’s the view I wanted,” Brown stated. “After my grandparents’ passing, I kept the cows and even planted my own hay.”
Luckily the fire stayed mostly contained to the area of the house, with the exception of a nearby pop-up travel trailer that was also lost to the fire. The barn was not damaged and the animals were all safe.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Brown’s insurance company will send an adjustor to look at the damage and possibly determine a cause. A neighbor told Brown that the area had a power surge last night; however, Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston stated that the cause was unable to be determined because of the extensive damage.
“When you have a something that is this destroyed, there are three things that come into play,” said Preston. “First nobody called it in early. Second, the house was so far out that it burned for a while before they could get to it, so there were no witnesses to tell where the fire may have started.” He explained. “The first ones on scene were Bangs Volunteer Fire Department and they found that the roof had already collapsed. Landmarks we normally look for as investigators are gone (the third problem to finding a cause).”
Brown stated that she is still in shock over the loss and has not figured out all of her losses. Fortunately, she does have insurance, which will hopefully help her to rebuild a home on the property one day. The Red Cross is helping with some of her immediate needs and Brown stated she is able to live with her daughter for a while. Those wishing to help Brown may leave donations with her family at 1505 Belle Plain in Brownwood.
Bangs Volunteer Fire Department and Lake Bridge Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene Tuesday night. Bangs VFD was called back to the scene Wednesday morning to extinguish a “hot spot” that remained during Preston’s investigation.
Pictured above and below are photos of the destruction caused by Tuesday night’s fire.
Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston investigates
Smouldering boards (known as a “hot spot”) remain Wednesday morning
Preston inspects the electrical breaker box.
The burned pop-up travel trailer
