Updated, Wed. am.

AT APPROX. 1:30 PM TODAY, FIVE TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, ALABAMA fire departments responded to a house fire.  It turned out to be the home of the Wiley VFD Fire Chief, Tommy Collins.

The fire was believed to have started with a malfunctioning kerosene heater and Chief Collins received some minor burns that were treated on the scene.

Early reports say that the house was a total loss.

source:  Nicol Fire Dept. report.

Update:

The Tuscaloosa News reports that when the fire broke out, none of the volunteer firefighters were available to respond, so Chief Collins raced to the firehouse and brought a pumper back to his home.  He immediately started fighting his own fire as the assisting departments began arriving.

But by then the fire was well underway and everything was lost.  A spokeswoman for the Wiley VFD says that to make matters worse, Collins had no fire insurance on his home or belongings.

He’s been chief of the Wiley Fire Department since it opened in 2004.

Collins is flanked by his grandsons,
Cory and Cody, as he watches his
house burn Tuesday afternoon.
(Tuscaloosa News photo)

Anyone interested in helping Wiley Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tommy Collins and his family can send donations to 11175 Willcutt Road, Berry, AL 35546, or call Ameila Willcutt at 205-361-5036.

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