February 21, 2010

Husband and wife Raymond Kaneipp and Billie Campbell came home from church around 11:30am Sunday morning to their home with fire through the roof.

Initial reports say the fire might have started in the kitchen.

"We don't know that it started in the kitchen," said Chief Doug Smythers, of the Seminole Trail Fire Department. "That's the way it was reported. Albemarle County Fire Rescue has their investigators here and they'll do an investigation over the coming days."

Chief Smythers says the house, located at 1500 Buck Mountain Road, is a total loss. No one was injured, but the family may have lost their two cats.

The house was made of cedar, so the fire spread very quickly.

"Once it got to the outside of the house and caught that cedar on fire it was very short period before the walls caved in on the house," said Smythers.

Access to water and fire hydrants is an issue in the country. Trucks dumped water in portable tanks to use to extinguish the fire. Fire fighters also used water from the swimming pool on the property.

Fire officials will continue to watch the house to make sure flames don't spread again. Chief Smythers said what's left of the home will smolder the next couple of days. Neighboring residents might see smoke rising from that area on Buck Mountain Road.