© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fires kill two, destroy church

National Weather Service

Many residents of Fannin County remain in mourning today following two tragic fires that occurred early Sunday. Both were caused by lightning strikes as a storm system passed through the area in the dark hours of early Sunday morning.

One fire occurred near Ladonia. WFAA reports that a house fire in the home of Richard and Rebecca Fields killed both of them. The fire at the couple’s house outside of Ladonia occurred shortly after 2 a.m. Fields was 58, had been married to Rebecca for 38 years and worked for the Collin County sheriff’s department as a deputy  for over 15 years, the station reports. Fields ran in the Republican primary election as a candidate for sheriff in 2012. The Fields home was built in 1930. The fire remains under investigation.

Elsewhere in Fannin County, in Honey Grove, KTEN reports that Main Street Presbyterian Church was destroyed in another fire yesterday morning. The blaze began around 5 a.m. at the historic building in the 500 block of Main Street, the station reports. The fire burned down a church that had stood for over 100 years in Honey Grove. The oldest parts of the building date to 1901 and 1912. The station reports that the Main Street Presbyterian Church congregation plans to continue meeting in one of the town’s two vacant church buildings.

WFAA and KTEN both report that separate memorial funds have been set up to benefit the family of Richard and Rebecca Fields of Ladonia and the community of Main Street Presbyterian Church in Honey Grove.

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.