Semmes home destroyed in fire

SEMMES, Ala. (WALA) - Fire roared through a house in Semmes Saturday night, destroying the home and the homeowner's car.

No one was hurt, but the blaze gutted the brick home. Gerrit Jones, who owns the residence, wasn't home when the fire broke out.

He was attending a get-together for a Corvette club he belongs to when he received a disturbing phone call.

Jones said, "I got a phone call between 10:00 and 11:30 from my girlfriend telling me that she thought my house was on fire, and, when I got home last night, this is what I came home to."

There's virtually nothing left. Also, destroyed: his Corvette.

Sunday, the ruins were still smoldering and melted metal remained from the searing heat. There's no word on the cause of the fire.

As for a dollar figure on damage, Jones said, "They don't know yet. The house is totaled, but they're not sure how much damage. It will have to be bulldozed to get it back right."

Jones said he has insurance, and loves the neighborhood. He wants to move back in the area.

Jones said, "I'm going to rebuild, because this is a nice quiet neighborhood."