Firefighters from the Twin Rivers, Corinth and DMW volunteer fire departments douse hot spots on a home that burned to the ground Tuesday afternoon. There was no immediate word on what might have sparked the blaze. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) Clara Howard was driving home Tuesday afternoon when she saw smoke rising above the tree tops near her friend's house.

Driving down the gravel roadway to see what was going on, Howard was confronted with her friend's home so engulfed in flames that portions of it were already collapsing.

A massive response by firefighters from the Twin Rivers, Corinth and DMW volunteer fire departments could do nothing to stop the home from burning completely to the ground. The only thing standing an hour later was the brick fireplace.

Described by firefighters as an old singlestory, wood-framed farmhouse, the residence was located a short distance from the intersection of Highway 105 and Lowry's Road in the southeastern section of Cherokee County.

The home is owned by Leonard Peeler and was leased by Denise Ferguson, known to friends as Sadie Mae of the nearby Sadie Mae's Cafe at the Highway 105, Lowry's Road intersection.

Twin Rivers Fire Chief Donald Phillips said no one was home when the fire started and no one was injured. He didn't have any information on what might have sparked the blaze.

A fire investigator from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene to help assist.

Howard said Ferguson had three cats and there was no immediate word on whether they escaped. She feared, however, that they perished.

"It (the home) burned like cardboard," she said.

Shellie Wylie of the American Red Cross of Cherokee County is accustomed to responding to tragedies and disasters but acknowledged she had a heavy heart upon going to Sadie Mae's Cafe on Tuesday afternoon.

"Last week she (Ferguson) gave the Red Cross a $50 gift card for our (fundraising) auction," Wylie said. "This week, we're at her business helping her. It makes me want to cry."

The Red Cross was able to assist Ferguson and her house guests with some money for clothing, food and medicine in addition to money for a hotel.

Ferguson did not have renter's insurance and Wylie said she wished all renters had such coverage.