The Picayune Fire Department responded to a call involving a house fire located at the residence of Keith and Linda Brewington, at 1310 Sixth Avenue, Dec. 25 at 1:37 a.m. Christmas morning.

“It was fully involved when we pulled up,” Picayune Fire Department Battalion Chief Dennis Beech said. “We brought the three engines over there and unloaded 1,800 gallons of water to it; it took 20 minutes to put out. We had 10 firemen plus myself, and the Fire Marshall Pat Weaver who responded to the fire.”

Fire Marshall Pat Weaver said the fire is still under investigation.

“The department did a good job putting out the fire and making sure no one was in it,” Weaver said. “At this time we are just thankful no one was in it.”

Neighbor, Willie McKenzie, said that his family was awakened in the early hours of the morning by responders who wanted to make sure that no one was home in the fire.

“They entered three separate times to search for occupants,” said McKenzie, who knew the homeowners to be staying in La. while the wife had surgery.

“This is very disappointing, we just finally got our home the way we want it.,” Keith Brewington said. “I have no idea what started it, but I have been going over it in my mind.

“My wife has been in the hospital having a total knee replacement and I have been staying at the hospital to be near her, in my RV, in the hospital parking lot. That is why we were not home.

“I am very thankful I had my animals with me.”

The couple will be making many decisions in the upcoming days as they begin their new year in a very different way than they had anticipated.

“Right now my top priority is getting Linda in a rehab close to our daughter who lives in Covington,” Keith Brewington said. “We may stay with our daughter while we are getting things put back together. I haven’t seen the house yet so I am not completely sure what we are dealing with.”