By Rupert Howell

A house fire Monday night claimed the life of two Panola countians at a residence on Ditch Bank Road in western Panola County near Quitman County.

Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole said L. J. Morrow and his son, Carl, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third resident who was daughter and sister of the deceased, Denise Morrow, escaped.
The older, two-story wooden structure was located between Ballentine and Curtis Roads in the Curtis Community.

County Fire investigator Gerald White said Tuesday morning that electrical fire had not been ruled out. White said the State Fire Marshall’s office was also on the scene afterward and that after talking with family, neighbors and church members, the elder Morrow had recently been talking about electrical problems involving a hot water heater.

Cole reported the fire call was received just prior to 9 p.m. with seven fire departments, EMA, ambulance service,  and Sheriff’s Department personnel all responding as well as Panola County Coroner Gracie Grant-Gulledge.

Cole and White also noted that Curtis Fire Chief Dwayne Vest was injured when a falling limb from a burning tree struck him, but reported that he was treated and released from Tri-Lakes Emergency Room.

Fire personnel left the scene at approximately 2:45 a.m. Tuesday Cole said.
White said he believed the deaths were the second and third fire deaths of 2013 and the first structure fire deaths of the year.