05/18/2026
Yesterday evening, McNairy County Fire Department District 2, consisting of Stations 22 and 23, Station 1, and Selmer Fire Department were paged out to a reported structure fire in the Oxford Creek subdivision. Preliminary details from dispatch indicated the homeowners garage was on fire, endangering the home, vehicles, and a propane tank, and that all residents were safely out of the home. County Command made scene and radioed that there was a small amount of smoke showing, but the fire was out. The homeowners had quickly grabbed a waterhose and put out the flames before the fire spread further, saving their home and vehicles. Fire units did a full scene sizeup to verify there was no further threat, and pulled a booster line to fully saturate the area. Due to the various items stored in garages, and the intense heat from the fire melting and binding everything involved, the direct cause of this fire is still unknown at this time, but will continue to be investigated. There are two top causes of garage fires in the U.S.: spontaneous combustion and combustible chemical reactions. Usually, in spontaneous combustion, rags or cloths used to apply oil based paint, stains, and wood finishes, like linseed oil, are often left clumped together and then trap heat as the oil dries. The heat can build up until the rags reach their ignition temperature and burst into flames. In combustible chemical reactions, stored oxidizing chemicals, such as swimming pool chlorine, fertilizers, or certain cleaners, near incompatible substances like paint thinner, gasoline, or organic debris, like sawdust, can result in a violent, heat-generating chemical reaction resulting in a fire. Use the following tips to keep your home and family safe from possible combustion or chemical reactions happening in your garage or carport areas: Use proper storage containers, isolate from heat and electrical sources, segregate and organize items, optimize container placement, and maintain fire safety equipment, such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Instances like this can happen to anyone, and we are thankful for the quick thinking of the homeowners, ultimately saving their home. MCFD remains committed to answering the call.