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Why would my neighbor call me at 2 a.m., I wondered as I answered my phone. Calmly, he told me to get dressed and get out of my house because the house across the street from me was on fire. It took a few minutes for me to gather a few valuable items, throw them in my car, and try not to panic as I joined my neighbors. We watched in horror while flames engulfed the stately Victorian house at 210 Linton Avenue. Three fire trucks were situated in front. Valiantly, firefighters sought to extinguish the flames consuming the house. It was a heroic but futile effort as the flames relentlessly roared.  I tried to call the house’s owner, Philip Rowden, but calls were unanswered. No one knew if he, or anyone else, was inside. It wasn’t until later that morning that a friend of Philip verified that he was out of town and that no one was inside.

I heard one firefighter explain that the fire probably started in the basement. Due to the type of construction, it spread up the walls into the attic. Just a short time later, the roof was engulfed and then the front of the house. Despite all the water being applied, flames grew in size and ferocity until, about 30 minutes later, the entire house was engulfed, and the structure collapsed. Fireballs and huge embers flew into the sky as the columns, roof, and floors all gave way. Firefighters applied water to the adjacent house, preventing it from catching fire. Siding on another house adjacent but farther away, blistered from the heat’s intensity.

Police were also on the scene and reassured me that my house and other houses on Linton Avenue across the street from the fire weren’t in danger, and if we were, firefighters would have instructed us to evacuate. But a neighbor who lives on Linton, near Madison, informed us that embers and ashes were flying around her house and others nearby. Residents kept vigilant watch to ensure those flying embers didn’t ignite any other structures.

Firefighters worked relentlessly. I watched as one emerged from the burning debris and collapsed to his knees on the sidewalk, remaining there awhile, but stood up as others came to check. Later that day, I commented on this to a firefighter connecting a hose to a nearby hydrant. He explained that people may not realize how very heavy those water-filled hoses are and how exhausting it can become. Again, I expressed gratitude for their courage and valiant efforts to protect us.

By 4:30 am, the worst of the fire was contained. But smoke and flames were visible throughout the morning and early afternoon. A backhoe was brought to dislodge some of the burnt debris so water could extinguish the fires underneath. 

I believe that the skill and heroism of the firefighters kept this tragedy from turning into a much larger catastrophe affecting more of these historic homes. And gratitude goes to a vigilant policewoman patrolling on nearby Canal Street who reported the fire. Even though the fire was large, it was still possible to keep it confined to one structure.

Horror and heroism—courage and compassion. This is a lesson in how life can change instantly and how important it is to care for one another.

Karen Dardick is a Natchez resident.