A fire late Tuesday night damaged the home of Gracie Cotton in the Stanley community caused extensive damage to the kitchen area of the 100-year-old plus house.

According to fire officials, the fire began in the kitchen of the house, but was extinguished before it spread throughout the structure. The cause of the fire is not yet known and remains under investigation.

Volunteer fire departments from Libertyville and Red Oak were dispatched to the home on Cotton Road at 9:56 p.m., where they arrived on scene shortly thereafter, according to witnesses at the scene of the fire. Prior to the arrival of the fire departments, Cotton's grandson who lives next door, Andy Johnson, had already begun spraying water on the fire with a water hose to try and prevent the spread of the fire.

"I just saw the fire," he said. "It was going pretty good in the kitchen, so I just got the water hose and started spraying everything."

Cotton, who was at home at the time of the fire, sustained a minor burn on her left arm and was treated at the scene by workers with Faith EMS.

In addition to the two volunteer fire departments and rescue workers responding, deputies with the Covington County Sheriff's Department and a worker with Covington Electric Cooperative responded to the fire. Cotton was also assisted by a myriad of neighbors, friends and relatives during the course of the blaze.

"We would like to thank everyone for coming out and helping mother during this tough time," said Myra Johnson, Cotton's daughter. "This community really comes together when a neighbor needs help. We're really lucky we didn't lose the whole house. The fire departments were here shortly after we called and stayed to make sure the fire didn't catch back up."