Law. Co. Sheriff’s deputy saves resident from fire

Nighttime blaze on Walnut Terrace begins as woman sleeps
A Mt. Vernon resident is now safe and sound thanks to the watchful eye of Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Perkins.
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, Perkins was on patrol and traveling the streets of Mt. Vernon when he noticed heavy smoke coming from just down the road. 
“As I pulled up to the residence of 908 Walnut Terrace, I saw fire coming from the engine area of an SUV sitting underneath the attached carport,” Perkins said. “The flames were touching the ceiling of the carport. I quickly went to the front door and knocked and identified myself, with no answer. I opened the front door and started yelling for anyone in the house. I entered the house and began a quick search.”
Perkins located the homeowner sound asleep in her bedroom, completely unaware of what was going on.
“Making my presence known a few times I heard a “hello” coming from the back of the house,” Perkins said. “I yelled that the house was on fire and asked where they were located. The occupant yelled “in the back bedroom.” I made my way to the back of the house to the bedroom and urged to the occupant the house was on fire; we needed to exit.”  
He quickly got her out of the residence as the fire continued to spread.
“There was a large explosion that rattled the house,” Perkins said. “We quickly left the residence promptly without injury. The fire quickly spread but the Mt. Vernon Fire Department was able to contain the fire to the south side of the residence.”
Mt. Vernon firefighters managed to contain the fire to a small portion of the residence and also extinguished the vehicle fire.