STAFF WRITER

Eric Roberts, chief of the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, said late Friday morning that firefighters from his department and the Newmansville VFD, were able to confine a fire to two rooms of a log cabin located behind the Ben Hankins residence on Miller Road.

Roberts said the blaze, which destroyed one room in the four-room structure, appeared to have begun around a wood-burning stove in a room that appeared to have been the cabin's kitchen.

A sheriff's department report filed late Thursday about the fire had indicated the cabin, at 490 Miller Road, was likely a "total loss." 

Later, Chief Roberts reported that two of its rooms and a screened back porch sustained only smoke and "some water" damage.

He said he believed that at least two of the cabin's rooms and the rear screened porch could still be used.

Chief Roberts noted that when firefighters arrived, heat radiating from the log cabin was threatening the main Hankins residence, which was located only about 15 feet from the cabin.

Roberts said firefighters initially concentrated on cooling down the Hankins residence.

As more firefighters arrived, efforts were moved to fight the fire inside the cabin.

Roberts said he understood that the cabin had been the former Hankins family "home place" and had been moved to its present location.

"They said the logs were over 100 years old and they were very dry," Chief Roberts said, noting that the condition of the wood made the fire burn intensely.

He also noted that the cabin had a cathedral ceiling, which collected heat inside the structure.
It was so hot inside the structure, Roberts said, that firefighters had to retreat from the interior at one point. 

"Once we ventilated it, we were able to go back inside," Roberts said.

He estimated that firefighters used at least 7,000 gallons of water in extinguishing the fire.

About 30 firefighters from the two departments took part in battling the 10:30 p.m. Thursday blaze.

Firefighters remained on the scene until about 2:30 a.m. Friday, Chief Roberts said.

But all Tusculum firefighters did not return to their fire station until about 5:30 a.m. Friday because of a mechanical problem with one of their fire trucks.

No injuries were reported at the fire scene