Home determined a total loss after fire, but no injuries reported

  • More than 20 firefighters from three departments, including Lampasas firefighter Jared Payne (pictured above) battled a structure fire southeast of Kempner on Tuesday.
    More than 20 firefighters from three departments, including Lampasas firefighter Jared Payne (pictured above) battled a structure fire southeast of Kempner on Tuesday.

Firefighters from Kempner, Lampasas and Copperas Cove battled a house fire on CR 4756 in sub-freezing weather on Monday. Occupants were out of the home on arrival of the first firefighting units, and no cold-weather-related emergencies such as hypothermia occurred, KVFD Deputy Chief Justin Martin said.

Fire Marshal Ronnie Withers said the structure is a total loss. The area of origin was determined to be near the electric meter base, but ice and snow have made it more difficult to study evidence and complete the investigation. 

“Everything is still frozen, and I can't move things around," Withers said. "It’s going to be electrical. I just don’t know what caused the failure yet.”