On August 18th at 4:50 a.m., the Thomasville Fire Department (TFD) received a call for a house fire at 1451 Lakewood Dr. that was fully engulfed in flames. One fatality was recorded: Rex Wood.

Units 108, 109, 104, 105 and 102 responded to the call. When firefighters arrived on scene, Unit 108 was notified that a person was trapped in the house. Fire Chief Richard Pugh, Taylor Williams and Will Mott were told by police officers on scene that they knew where the bedroom was.

The TFD and Thomasville Police Department (TPD) broke a window to the bedroom and searched the room for Wood. Wood was found motionless next to the bed. The TFD got him out through the broken window. Once Wood was outside, firefighters took him to a safe location. ASAP arrived and took Wood to the hospital.

The firefighters who responded to the call were Melvin Calhoun, Fred Culpepper, Russell Mott, Will Mott, Dick Newton, Chris Owes, Donald Pugh, Tanner Pugh, Richard Pugh, Reid Smith and Taylor Williams. The cadets who also responded were John Allen, Chase Dunham, Jacoby Holt and John West.