The Fire

So our labor day weekend this year was a little too exciting for us. On Saturday we had asked our next door neighbors, The Fains, over to BBQ with us, but the wind was blowing so hard that we decided to go inside instead of having it outside. We BBQ ed our chicken and got everything ready. The Fains and their friend Wade who was staying with them at the time came over and brought some dutch oven potatoes and a cookie salad. Well they had been over for about 45 minutes and we were just finishing eating when someone came pounding on the door and said the neighbors house was on fire. We freaked and ran over there. One of the older neighbor kids had called 911, but the whole back of the house was in flames. The dad, Chad, and Wade ran in to get their dogs out, but they couldn't find them. Chip got the latter off his truck and got on the front of the roof, by an open window to try and coax the dogs out there, but there was to much smoke billowing out the window. We grabbed our hose and started spraying the vehicles down, because they were next to the house and the keys to them were inside. The police and an ambulance got there pretty quickly, but because of a problem with dispatch and the fire department didn't get there for what seemed like forever!!!! By the time the fire department got here there were flames shooting out from the front door. They did their best but the house was pretty much a total loss. Though this whole thing. I was so worried about Kerry, the mom, she is pregnant with twins and was about 6 months along. She started having some contractions and was totally stressed (major understatement). This was the first time we had invited them over for dinner. What a dinner party.
As bad as this all was the out pouring from people here was incredible, before the fire was out they had a place to stay at his bosses cabin which was completely furnished, they had formula and diapers, for their baby, Miles, and some clothing and necessities. They weren't able to get the dogs out which was probably the biggest blow to the family, but the firefighters were able to get the bodies out later. Someone called an animal mortuary and let them know what had happen. The mortuary arranged for the dogs to be cremated for free and even came up from St. George to pick them up and deliver them. When their land lord found out what had happened they allowed them to move into another house in town that they owned. When they moved to the house one of the young women in another ward had arranged from couches, tables, beds, chairs, clothing and food to be brought and the support was overwhelming. They didn't have renters insurance and they lost almost everything so this was especially needed. Also many people gave money. I just have to say how proud I am of my neighbors although the first two days they were extremely stressed, they have been amazing in their attitudes and their optimism. I am also proud of the church and community. This is how we should work when someone is in need. They received so many clothes they didn't need them all, probably not even half of them so they gave them to other people who needed them. We counted at least 15 kids who got clothes that were needed from this. Wow! I'm not sure why this happened, the Lord works in mysterious ways, but I know he lives and loves us and I am so glad I have that knowledge!





There aren't any pics of the inside of the house on here, but it was pretty much charcoal all the way through. The little girl in the pic is the daughter of the family, Alyssa. They think the fire started from the BBQ on the back porch. Chad had made the potatoes and put out the coals, but with the wind blowing so hard, they think that a spark blew up into the eaves and it went very quickly from there mostly because of the wind. Luckily the owner of the home had insurance and should be able to rebuild. She said after it was rebuilt they could move back in, WOW, what a great woman. She knows that it was an accident and could have happened to anyone. WARNING: if your BBQ is next to your house I seriously suggest that you move it away!