Rustin residents lose home, pets to fire; another fire being investigated

An early morning structure fire at 168 J A McGill Road in the Rustin community had several Jones County volunteer fire departments out doing what they do best.  The single wide mobile home at the address was fully involved up arrival of the first responding units from Rustin VFD.  Firefighters immediately began a defensive attack on the blaze.

 

One person was in the home at the time of the incident.  Mandy Overstreet was asleep in her bedroom when she stated she awakened and had trouble breathing.  She attempted to escape through her bedroom door, but was met with heavy smoke and visible flames.  She finally escaped with her pet pit bull out the bedroom window.  Overstreet lives at the home with roommate April McCraw, who was not home at the time.  The residents lost three other pit bulls in the blaze.  The home sustained heavy damage.

 

M & M, Sandersville, and Powers volunteer fire departments assisted Rustin, and Wayne County's Pleasant Grove VFD rendered mutual aid as well.  Emserv Ambulance Service was on standby at the scene.  No other injuries were reported.

 

In another incident on Monday, Calhoun, Soso and Ellisville fire departments responded to 28 Scoggins Drive, which was reported by a member of Calhoun VFD.  Lee Garrick stated that he was in the area and activated 911.  The fire was contained to a bedroom, thanks to quick work of fire department personnel.  Garrick stated the same address was the subject of a structure fire last year, in January 2019.  The fire will be investigated by the Jones County Sheriff's Office.  The home was vacant at the time and no injuries were reported.