Washington firefightersworked most of the night last Tuesday night to uncover and put out hot spots in the burned structure of this turn-of-the-century home on East Liberty Street at Alexander Avenue. Washington firefightersfought a stubborn firein the historic district last week that heavily damaged a home on East Liberty Street.

Firefighters were called to the home of Lee and Amanda Hiland just after 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night, and arrived within three minutes of the first of several 911 calls, Washington Fire Chief Alan Poss said.

When firefighters arrived, he said, they found firehad engulfed the home's front porch and was in the porch roof. The firehad already broken out windows around the front, and was entering the house through the windows.

Firefightersattacked the fireand battled the stubborn flames, mounting an interior attack to keep the firefrom spreading, but the home was fully involved except for the rear portion.

Poss said that the occupants were in the rear of the home when they heard popping sounds. They fledthe home from the rear, but a family cat apparently returned to the structure and was found later in the rubble.

An investigator from the Georgia Fire Marshal's officedetermined that the fire was accidental, and originated from candles burning on the front porch, Poss said.

Overhauling the firetook several hours as firefightersused a thermal imaging device to locate hot spots.

The first 911 call reporting the firevaguely gave the location as Jefferson Street, 911 Director Jerry Hackney said, and firefighterswere dispatched immediately. Other calls reported the fire, he said, and the calls were handled properly. "I've reviewed it thoroughly and we've found no problem with the way it was handled."

The home was fully insured, Poss said. The homeowners were unavailable for comment.