Fire destroys home on Whitmell School Road

Firefighters from five Pittsylvania County volunteer fire departments responded to a house fire at 6837 Whitmell School Road shortly after 10 p.m. Monday.

The house was unoccupied.

Kenneth Hudson, chief of the Tunstall Fire & Rescue, said his department was first to arrive.

“The back was fully involved and flames were shooting out the front when we got here,” Hudson said.

He said it took 25 to 30 minutes to knock down the fire. Firefighters, he said, would remain at the house for another hour or two to ensure the fire did flare up again.

Also responding were the Mount Cross, Dry Fork, Mount Hermon and Bachelors Hall fire departments.

Bob Thurman, chaplain with Tunstall Fire & Rescue, said neighbors told him the house had been vacant for two weeks, but the power was still on and firefighters had to deal with burning wires.

Hudson said the cause of the fire would be investigated by Pittsylvania County Fire Marshal Steve Bowman.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.