Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

AHOSKIE – Six residents of a two-story dwelling are safe, but without a home after a fire here Thursday night.

The residence, located at 320 North Maple Street, was heavily damaged, according to Ahoskie Fire Chief Michael Bradley.

Bradley said that an Ahoskie Police Officer, while on routine patrol, was the first to see smoke and flames coming from the home.

“He hastily alerted those inside the home. It could have been a lot worse if he hadn’t been passing by at that particular time,” Bradley said.

Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell identified the officer as Jason Baker.

“I commend Officer Baker for his actions,” Asbell said. “He spotted the fire, called it in to emergency dispatch, and then quickly alerted those inside the home of the situation.”

Asbell added that APD Officer Dawson Dunlow also arrived at the scene and assisted Baker in escorting the residents to a safe location.”

Station 1 and Station 2 of the Ahoskie Fire Department were paged out at 9:27 pm and rushed to the scene. Those two departments accounted for 23 firefighters and four units.

Also responding were the Union Rural Fire Department, who sent six firefighters and three units, and the Winton Fire Department (11 firefighters and one unit).

“With that additional help, we were able to swap out those attacking the fire on a regular basis. That really helped a lot on an extremely hot and humid night,” Bradley said, adding his thanks to the personnel from Union and Winton.

Hertford County EMS and Hertford County Emergency Management also responded to the scene.

Bradley said the cause of the fire is under investigation.