Atlanta Daily World

25 Left Homeless As Fire Destroys 2 Duplex Houses

A flash fire left 25 homeless Saturday as it destroyed two duplex frame houses at 5 and 6 Middlebrooks Drive and threatened to burn Fountain High School, according to Chief R. E. Johnson, of the Forest Park Volunteer Fire Dept.

The fire broke out around 7:30 a. m. in what is known as the Rosetown Section. It started in a duplex at 5 Middlebrooks Dr. occupied by the families of Mrs. Pleas Andrews and Mrs. Willie Mae Clinton.

High wintry winds fanned the fast spreading fire, sweeping it over the other duplex dwelling and grass near Fountain High. The raging fire was checked less than 200 yards before it reached the school building, but it had already left the two frame houses totally destroyed. Five other dwellings in the area were also threatened.

The dwelling at 6 Middlebrooks Dr. was inhabited by a mother of six children, Mrs. Lewis Ridley, her two grand children, and her mother Mrs. Elizabeth Weems. The other side of the house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Ransom and their three children.

Pearlena Willis, a 12-year-old neighbor of the fire victims said 10 persons lived in one house and 15 in the other. The Andrews family includes a six months old baby, a boy 3, a girl 11, and the children's grandmother, Mrs. Bessie Brooks. (Continued On Page 6, Col. 6)