An early morning fire in Lynch destroyed a duplex home at 248 West Main. Residents Velda Melton and Megan Fields were not injured as a result of the fire.

“The Lynch Fire Department responded to the fire at 4:40 a.m. on Thursday,” said Lynch Fire Chief Bill Goode. “Upon arrival, the duplex was pretty much engulfed — a lot of smoke. When firefighters began opening the structure up it began flaming out.”

Goode said the structure was “pretty much” destroyed. He said there was a lot of damage upstairs “where the fire burned through.”

“It has been determined the fire was a result of an electrical malfunction,” said Goode. “The fuse box was in the same area as the electric heater and that wall was destroyed.”

It was reported Fields has just recently completed remodeling work on her side of the duplex and on Wednesday had moved furniture into the home to begin living there.

In addition to losing her home, Melton was also involved in an automobile collision in route to the fire.

“While assisting at the fire scene, Cumberland Police Officer Tyler Hensley’s police cruiser was parked on East Main Street with the emergency equipment activated. This was done to shut the road down in order to allow emergency vehicles to arrive in response to the fire. While the vehicle was parked, Velda Melton, a resident at 248 West Main Street, was returning home driving her 2005 Mitsubishi Galant,” said Lynch Police Chief Mike Nunley. “The Melton vehicle struck officer Hensley’s cruiser knocking it several feet out of the road. Both vehicles received damage. Officer Hensley was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident and Melton was not injured.”

Also assisting at the fire were Benham Fire Department, Lynch Police Officer Drew Wilson, Cumberland Police Officer Tyler Hensley and Benham Police Chief Drew Woods.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@civitasmedia.com