A house fire is reported at 6616 Snyder Road, Elba, located between Lockport and Maltby roads. It's the same vacant structure that was on fire April 20. Snyder Road becomes Weatherwax Road south of Maltby. A Sheriff's deputy on scene confirms the blaze and says some trees next to it are also on fire. Elba fire is responding along with mutual aid from Oakfield, which is to set up a draft site on Maltby Road, and Byron and Barre. Snyder Road will be shut down to traffic.
UPDATE 5:23 a.m.: Alabama fire is asked to fill in at Oakfield's fire hall.
UPDATE 5:32 a.m.: Elba command reports the fire is knocked down.
UPDATE 7:40 a.m.: Photos added.
"The structure was pretty much gone when we got here," said Elba Chief Mike Hale. "It was just a matter of getting the fire out and making sure the crews were safe doing it."
The fire is under investigation.
"It's definitely suspicious," Hale said. "We were out here earlier this week and now we're back again, so there's definitely something suspicious there."
Because the house was vacant and already pretty much gone by the time fire departments were dispatched, Hale said he kept the response to a minimum necessary for manpower and water. Besides Elba, responding were Byron, Oakfield and Barre.
