Man escapes fire

— Looking out his window and seeing flames, Bob Parsons jumped to his feet and headed outside for the water hose.

“It went through the window and the bed was on fire,” Parsons said Sunday. “I lost my teeth, my cap - I guess I’m just lucky I’ve got my life.”

The 80-year-old Korean veteran said he has lived there for 15 years.

Neighbor Keri Hutchinson said she and her children were outside when her daughter said: “Look, old man Bob’s house is onfire.” Hutchinson said she ran to help him and called 911 for the fire department.

Firefighters from Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge and Avoca volunteer fire departments responded to fight the blaze that destroyed the Beaver Hollow Road residence which consisted of a mobile home, a constructed room attached and a chicken house on one end.

Parsons said a gun and ammunition were stored inside and the bullets started “popping” causing him and his neighbor to back off.

Benton County Fire Marshal Will Hanna, who was called to the scene, said the cause of the blaze is undetermined.

News, Pages 1 on 02/02/2011