Families lose homes in duplex blaze

The homes of two families were destroyed early last Thursday morning when a duplex caught fire, according to Brian Cantrell, training officer for Volunteer Fire Services Inc., which responded to the fire.

The fire took place at 120 Cedar Circle off U.S. 41-A South in Bedford County at about 4 a.m., Cantrell said.

"There was fire damage to both duplexes, and everybody made it out," he said. "There were no injuries."

The cause of the fire was undetermined, and arson was not suspected, according to Cantrell, who also said the fire started somewhere on the back side of the building, but that the exact location of the origin could not be determined.

The Martineau and Helmholtz families lived in the duplex, and Cantrell said the Red Cross has housed the families temporarily.

Each family had six members living in their respective duplex.

Stations 1, 5 and 6 responded to the blaze, Cantrell said.