By MARVIN HAMLETT
Editor
A family of four was left homeless on Saturday afternoon when a fire destroyed their rented home.
The blaze was called in at approximately 12:42 p.m. at Coleman’s Mill Road near the Gladstone community of Appomattox County.
The two-story wooden-framed home was owned by Richard Martin and was being rented to Stephanie Pruphniak, a mother of three.
The Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire call within five minutes and arrived on the scene in 12 minutes.
The 17 firefighters brought three engines and a tanker.
“When (AVFD) arrived, we found heavy fire conditions all throughout the house,” said Jonathan Garrett, assistant chief with AVFD. “Due to heavy fire conditions, it took approximately 30 minutes to gain control of the fire.”
The Appomattox department stayed on the scene for more than three hours to ensure that the blaze was fully extinguished.
The house was a complete loss, and nothing was salvaged.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but it was not suspicious in nature, Garrett said.
Nobody was home when the fire occurred, and there were no injuries from emergency responders.
AVFD Chief Timmy Garrett was in charge of the scene.
Also on scene were the following:
* A Tanker from Gladstone Fire Department
* Concord Rescue Squad
* Appomattox Sheriffs Office assisted with Traffic control
The Times-Virginian attempted to call the Stephanie Pruphniak, but the phone number would not allow a message to be left.
The American Red Cross is providing assistance for the mother and her three children.