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CLEARVIEW –– A Saturday afternoon fire in south Bastrop Country destroyed a rural dwelling, but not before the lone occupant made his escape with the help of bystanders.
The blaze in the 100 block of East Clearview Cemetery Road was spotted shortly before 2 p.m.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the March 16 conflagration remains under investigation.
According to witnesses, a group of friends on dirt bikes spotted smoke and rushed to the single-story, wood-frame structure. One of the riders, a former firefighter, began banging on the door and awoke Ray Bousquet, who said he has lived there 35 years.
“I opened up my door and there was a fire,” said Bosquet, the only person there at the time. “I don’t know what started it.”
He also feared for his cats’ safety, though witnesses said they saw some of the pets make it out.
Bousquet’s wife was out of town, he added.
Bastrop County fire units, sheriff’s deputies and a standby ambulance made the scene, while several neighbors were also on hand to help.
After the flames were doused, the structure collapsed, witnesses said.
Cherished artwork created by a relative inside the building apparently was lost, Bousquet added.
Witnesses said the flames spread quickly, though it was not known if Saturday’s high winds fueled by low humidity played a role.
Bastrop County is under a burn ban as of March 14, more information to come in next week’s edition of the Courier.
