Long County Sheriff's Office Deputy Robert Parker lost a portion of his home Tuesday night to a blaze that firefighters reportedly fought for more than four hours.

According to Ludowici/Long County Fire Department Assistant Chief Andy Mock, the call came in at around 9:30 p.m. First responders learned the fire was shooting through the roof of a home on South Railroad Street in Ludowici.  

Mock said that when first units arrived on the scene, they found flames coming through the roof and window gables on the house’s third-floor/attic. Mock said firefighters tried to attack the blaze from inside the home, but the third-floor ceiling fell on the men and they had to exit the structure.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday's Coastal Courier.