On the afternoon of August 6, 2024, a devastating house fire required the intervention of five different fire companies in the Oakwood Subdivision. The blaze, which occurred at a home on Woodbrook Circle, is owned by Nick and Lindsey Townsend. Lindsey Townsend is a beloved teacher at Lakeland Elementary School.
Brent Perkins of the Shelby County Fire Department described the incident as significant, necessitating a large-scale response. “Five engine companies were on scene. That included 30 firefighters and even the fire chief himself was there,” Perkins told Lakeland Currents. The response included four engine companies from Shelby County Fire Department and one from Arlington Fire Department. Perkins emphasized the importance of the early 911 call in mitigating the damage. “We always tell people, please call the very moment you think there might be an emergency.”
While the exact cause of the fire has not been officially determined, Perkins indicated that it originated in the garage area and that an electric golf cart might have been the ignition source.
In the midst of the firefighting efforts, friends and neighbors of the Townsends quickly mobilized to support the family. Amy Foster, a Lakeland resident and friend of the family, recounted how the community sprang into action. “It’s actually an amazing story how it all came together,” Foster said. “There is a house that my family renovated together this summer in Lakeland. It was on the market, but when Lindsay turned to us on the sidewalk and said ‘it’s crazy that I’m thinking about this, but we’re going to need somewhere to stay and it has to be in Lakeland.’”
Foster immediately offered the renovated house to the Townsends. “Within an hour, we had three truckloads of furniture going there to set up for them. Things like towels, water, food, toothbrushes, a change of clothes for everybody—everything was at the house before they even got there,” she said.
The community’s swift and compassionate response highlights the strong bonds and support system in Lakeland, providing comfort to the Townsend family in a time of crisis. A private Facebook page has also been created to offer additional support. “Everyone loves this family,” Mrs. Foster said. “You know everything happens for a reason and having a house ready for them to step into last night was part of a greater plan.”
