Flames roared through historic house,
bringing it down in about 25 minutes
An historic Calhoun home burned to the ground Friday evening on Sycamore Road near Russett, leaving the four-member Smith family homeless.
Calhoun Deputy Sheriff J. D. Smith, his wife and two children were not injured.
Arnoldsburg Fire Chief Derek Wright says Mrs. Smith was outside in the yard when she smelled smoke, entering the dwelling to discover a rapidly spreading fire.
The large, two story, farm house was completely engulfed before firemen arrived.
Firemen had difficulty accessing structure
A firemen indicated the roaring fire brought the house down in about 25 minutes.
Chief Wright said access to the fire was difficult, a bridge to the residence was closed. Firemen did manage to get hoses across a creek to the house, which sits some distance from the highway.
The Upper West Fork VFD also responded to the scene.
The house was over 100 years old, belonging to the French Poling family, son of Calhoun's first sheriff Nicholas Poling in 1856.
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