A fire heavily damaged the home of a Fort Stewart soldier and his family Sunday afternoon.
According to Hinesville Fire Department Capt. Chris Moss, firefighters received the call of a structure fire in the 200 block of Glenn Bryant Drive shortly after 3:30. When the firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the single-family home.
Moss said it took about an hour and a half to get the fire under control.
"The problem we ran into fighting the fire was due to additions built onto the house,” he said. “As we put out one section it would flair up in another because the fire would get into hard-to-reach areas."
Joshua Towne, his wife Maggie and their three chidren were visiting Joshua's parents in Fleming making Christmas plans when they were notified of the fire.
Moss said his firefighters were able to save some of the children's Christmas gifts which were in the front of their house. The rear of the home sustained the majority of damage while the rest sustained heat, smoke and water damage.
The family’s two dogs were pulled to safety by a neighbor and they have been reunited with the family. Two cats are missing.
The Red Cross was called into assist the family.