Tragedy
SULPHUR BLUFF — A retired Dallas firefighter died in a Sulphur Bluff structure fire Tuesday afternoon.
Rick Alberts, 68, was located at approximately 1:50 p.m. Wednesday after an extensive search by Search One Rescue Team, a Dallas/Fort Worth non-profit community service organization with specifically trained canine handlers dedicated to search and rescue.
Hopkins County Fire, along with several local volunteer departments, responded to the fire on County Road 3605 at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Officials said the fire consumed the two-story house quickly and left heavy debris. The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation.
Hopkins County residents are once again showing their generosity and willingness to help others in need. A GoFund-Me page has been set up for donations to the family. In less than 24 hours, donors contributed more than $3,400 toward the $7,000 goal.
“My mom, brothers and I lost a lot last night. Worst of all, we lost my dad. [As] if this wasn’t bad enough, we (Mom) also lost both dogs, and everything she has ever owned.
Clothes, photos, antiques passed down, all things that we keep near our hearts dear to us,” Tiffany Alberts Saul wrote in a post shared on the GoFundMe page Wednesday.
Sulphur Bluff School is accepting donations of cash and gift cards to local stores to help Alberts’s wife, Patti, who is a school employee. Donations should be taken to the school office.
The Sulphur Bluff Beta Club will host a fundraiser 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Club members will be offering taco stack ups/nachos for donations in the Sulphur Bluff ISD cafeteria.
Services for Rick Alberts will be Monday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.