Retired teacher dies in early morning fire, state will investigate
Published 4:24 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024
BROOKHAVEN — A woman died in an early Wednesday morning fire according to Brookhaven Fire Chief Jeff Ainsworth. The Mississippi State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the fire.
Ainsworth said units were dispatched to the fire at Jackson Square Apartments located at 740 North Jackson Street around 5:44 a.m. and arrived on scene at 5:47 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single story structure on fire and quickly extinguished the blaze.
“Thats when they discovered the victim inside. It is really tragic,” Ainsowrth said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Lincoln County Coroner Blake Wallace said the victim was Barbara Nelson Smith and the family has been notified. She was a resident at the apartment complex and was a beloved school teacher.
Brookhaven School District Superintendent Rod Henderson said Smith was a retired teacher. She actually taught him, he added. Smith spent most of her years in the school district at Alexander High School, which later became Alexander Junior High.
“She will be missed, she was a good teacher and very influential in her student’s lives,” Henderson said.
Brookhaven Fire Department cleared the scene at 8:44 a.m.
A busy week
The fire was the second fatal fire in Lincoln County in the past three days and fourth structure fire in three days. On Monday, The Drury House was damaged by a fire and a woman was killed when a mobile home on Newman Trail caught fire.
Wednesday morning, a mobile home on Oilfield Lane was destroyed by a fire and shortly after Brookhaven Fire Department was called to the Jackson Square Apartments. Ainsworth did have a brief public service announcement as people start using heaters during the winter.
“Be very cautious about space heaters and don’t use extension cords to run space heaters. Give them the room they need,” Ainsworth said. “Accidents are going to happen but we can limit them by taking precautions.”
Check back for more updates.