thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

TELLICO PLAINS -- A Tellico Plains family lost their home to a fire which appeared to have started when the stove was left on.

Monroe County Deputy Clint Brookshire responded to a structure fire on Payne Road about 7:20 p.m. Sunday where he spoke with the victims, Luther and Barbara Walton.

Luther Walton said that he left the home about 5:30 p.m. to go to the store and that his wife, Barbara, was supposed to start cooking French fries for dinner. He said that his wife called him shortly after he left and asked if he would rather go out to eat and he agreed. He said he met his wife at the restaurant in Madisonville and then continued on to Wal-mart. He said on his way home he received a call about his house on fire.

Barbara Walton said that she did start cooking the fries, but could not remember if she turned the stove off.

Brookshire said that the stove is located at the front of the house to the right of the front door where the fire appeared to have started.

Mount Vernon and Tellico Plains Volunteer Fire Departments responded and extinguished the blaze.