Last Wed., April 8, a fire broke out in a home on General Buckner Rd. Neighbors heard an explosion a little after 7 pm and ran to help but couldn’t get 77 year old Houston Chandler out of the house before it was fully engulfed in flames. He died at the scene. The Standard spoke to Danny and Sandy Dunaway, who live across the street. She said she tried to call 911 three times, on her AT&T cell phone and the call wouldn’t go through. Everyone in Dover with AT&T service was unable to call or receive calls last Wed. night and most of Thurs. She had to run down the hill to find service to call 911. According to call logs, the call came into dispatch at 7:33 pm. Fire, EMS and Police were dispatched. Town of Dover Fire Captain Jonathan Crockarell said an engine from the Dover Fire Dept. was dispatched and the first fire truck on the scene. Dover Police Officer Jody Batton was the first responder on the scene and tried to help the neighbors get the man out again to no avail. Danny Dunaway and two neighbors who tried to help had to be treated with oxygen. By the time a volunteer firefighter left his home and got to the fire station, the first fire truck didn’t show up until 7:47 pm, according to Dunaway’s Ring Doorbell camera. By that time, the house was fully engulfed in flames. According to Dunaway, they ran out of water and had to go to the fire hydrant at the bottom of the hill. Crockarell said those are county maintained fire hydrants down there and are not inspected by the city. Apparently, there was trouble with the hydrant. Even though General Buckner Rd. is across from Dover Elementary, it’s considered in the county.
Dunaway said they had to back away from the house. Sandy said, “I mean, there was a lot of explosions. He had a lot of guns and ammo. So you could hear explosions and then also we saw what looked like fireworks had come out of the house. I guess they had some fireworks in there.” Danny said, “I’ve known Houston for 12 years.”
They said his daughter moved in with him about six months ago. She was outside screaming and the neighbor and Danny got her away from the house. Danny said he was thinking the whole time he was going to be hit by an exploding bullet. Sandy said, “Mr. Houston just had a small oxygen tank. Danny and Jared (neighbor) went to the front door and tried to kick the door in before any help arrived, but they couldn’t get the door in so Danny went out and got a huge brick thing and threw it through the front door. They got the front door open but there was so much smoke by that time they couldn’t get in.” The daughter was transported to the hospital.
We received an email last week from TBI confirming the identity of the man who died. They stated, “At the request of the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department, the TBI is investigating a deadly fire that occurred in the 100 block of General Buckner Drive in Dover. That investigation remains active and ongoing.” The house went up quick, so no one knows for sure if better cell service and a 24 hour manned fire dept. would have saved Mr. Chandler but it would have hurt his chances. Dunaway said they had to back away from the house. Sandy said, “I mean, there was a lot of explosions. He had a lot of guns and ammo. So you could hear explosions and then also we saw what looked like fireworks had come out of the house. I guess they had some fireworks in there.” Danny said, “I’ve known Houston for 12 years.” They said his daughter moved in with him about six months ago. She was outside screaming and the neighbor and Danny got her away from the house. Danny said he was thinking the whole time he was going to be hit by an exploding bullet. Sandy said, “Mr. Houston just had a small oxygen tank. Danny and Jared (neighbor) went to the front door and tried to kick the door in but they couldn’t get the door in so Danny went out and got a huge brick thing and threw it through the front door. They got the front door open but there was so much smoke by that time they couldn’t get in.” The daughter was transported to the hospital…