SMOKY SCENE

SMOKY SCENE — Union City Fire Department Lt. Corey Jones (right) pulled a section of hose toward a home at 1512 Matthews St., while Union City Fire Chief Kelly Edmison kept close watch on a carport corner post to ensure it didn’t give way, during a fire Monday. The fire was reported at 1:13 p.m. at a home rented by Billy Ray McClain and owned by Ralph Adams. Flames and heavy smoke were coming from the east end of the house when firefighters arrived and they quickly knocked down the blaze, which was reported under control within 20 minutes of the call time. Edmison said the fire started in the carport, but the cause is undetermined. He said there was a danger of the roof collapsing on the home’s carport end and UC Public Works knocked it down with a backhoe to avoid any possibility of someone being hurt. At the scene, McClain told The Messenger he was inside the home and had just finished praying when someone came to the door and told him the house was on fire. Union City firefighters were assisted by the South Fulton Fire Department, with firefighters working at the scene nearly 11⁄2 hours.