Three members of a Thorndale-area family died before dawn Sunday morning as fire roared through their rural home on FM 486.
According to the Milam County Sheriff’s Department, the remains of Myrtle Cantwell, 82; Bill Cant-well Jr., 59; and 50-year-old Marvin Cantwell were located after the Thorndale and Rockdale Volunteer Fire Departments spent more than three hours battling the blaze at 1840 FM 486, about one and one-half miles north of Thorndale.
911 CALL—Sheriff Chris White told The Reporter a passing motorist made a 911 call just after 4 a.m. reporting the fire.
The Thorndale VFD responded and requested help from Rockdale volunteers.
Shortly thereafter, Cant-well family members responded to the scene and told those at the location the one thing law enforcement and volunteer firefighters never want to hear, that they feared there were people inside the house.
White said he called in investigators who began a thorough search of the rubble.
“We stayed on scene until all the remains were identified,” White said. “It was difficult and required a very close inspection of the rubble.”
White said his department worked with the Texas Fire Marshall’s Office and stayed on the scene until the state agency had finished.
“I can’t say enough about the professionalism of the Thorndale and Rockdale firefighters who did such an incredible job,” White said.
Memorial services for all three Cantwells will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Davilla Baptist Church.
BAD MONTH—The fire was the fourth major home blaze, and the worst, for the Rockdale VFD in 10 days.
On Feb. 5 Rockdale volunteers were called to three home fires in 6-1/2 hours.
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