Local Safety Officials Say This Winter Is One Of The Deadliest
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BOLIVAR, Tenn — January was one of the deadliest months in Tennessee history when it comes to house fires, according to local fire officials. According to Lieutenant Kim Nucholls of the Bolivar Fire Department, 17 people have died in weather related fires in January, and 12 of those have happened in West Tennessee. “West Tennessee has seen one of the most dangerous winters,” Lt. Nucholls said. Hardeman County officials worked one of those fires in January, where an elderly couple died in a house fire. While the fire is still under investigation, Nucholls said a space heater was a likely cause. He said it’s something that has become all too familiar this season. “It’s been a lot colder than normal so people are using space heaters,” Nucholls said. “And it can be dangerous.” Fires aren’t the only cause of winter related injuries. While officials at the Tennessee Highway Patrol were unable to pull the numbers of crashes related to weather, local law enforcement said they have seen an increase in calls. “We even had to shut down a busy road on Saturday due to weather incidents,” Lt. Ben Davis, of the Whiteville Police Department said. With warmer temperatures expected, Nucholls said he hopes they’ve seen the last of winter related tragedies.
