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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-01, Page 21'amity of three escapes early morning blaze that destroys home outside of Staffa News The Huron Expositor • March 1, 2006 Page 21 Jeff Heuchert aimmEND Thanks to what West Perth Fire Chief Bill Elliot says was an "ample amount of smoke detectors through- out the house," a father and his two young daughters were able to escape their farm house safely before it was engulfed and gutted by fire last Thursday morning. The fire was detected around 12:15 a.m. at the home of 38 -year-old Keith Johns, on Line 19, just out- side of Staffs. The fire department responded to a call around 12:26, says Elliot, but by the time they arrived the fire was well on its way, and there was not much they could do. "The house was completely engulfed in fire (when we arrived) and the roof was burnt off," he says, adding that all that is left now is an outer shell. Johns and his two daughters, six- year-old Jasmine and two-year-old Carisia, were asleep when the smoke detector sounded. Johns says he jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to the basement where the alarm was sounding. There ' he found a lot of smoke and what he thought was a relatively small fire. "I ran upstairs, grabbed the fire extinguisher, thinking I could con- tain it a little bit," he says, but real- ized upon returning, the fire had gotten too big to be contained. "I just dropped it (the extinguish- er) and got the hell out of there. There's nothing I could do." Johns ran upstairs, grabbed his two daughters and made his way outside, which in itself, wasn't that simple. 1,3 '1'IIOMPSON URETHANE 0101 SPRY -AY ¶ FIBREGLASS INSULATION 11-(_)(' Hi1111(11( Call Ron At 519-263-2319 tie SCHOONDERWOERD BROS. CONCRETE LTD. Mitchell, Ontario All Kinds of Concrete Work + Circular Manure Tanks + Complete Foundations + Dry Manure Storage + House Foundations + Bunker Silos ♦ Floors, Floating Slabs ♦ Driveways, Patios ♦ Complete Excavation and Gravel Supply Phone: (519) 348-0530 Fax: (519) 348-4819 Cell: (519) 949-1177 416 JANSEN MASONRY Pete 440-0021 Harry 527-2117 prick • Block * Stone RESTORATION WORK Serving The Area For Over 35 Years Seaforth Ontario Le McGrath Plumbing & Heating Inc. SEAFORTH 522-0493 Larry McGrath Ucenced Plumber & Ucenced Gas Fitter Call Today! Installation .Service Repairs v yy "It was hazy and hard to breath," he says, adding that once outside, he then loaded his daughters into his vehicle and drove down to his neighbours, where he called the fire department. Standing outside the morning after the fire and looking at what's left of the house he bought only seven years, Johns says he's upset and angry that this happened. "I work hard all my life and for what I have - and for this to hap- pen," he says exasperated. "I've lost everything," he adds, except for what he had when he ran out of the house. "A pair of jogging pants, boots - not even a shirt, and my two daughters in my arms." The family dog, Sandy, also sur- vived the fire. Looking back at those minutes A -Hairy • inside the house, Johns is glad he dropped the extinguisher and grabbed his kids when he did. "I could have lost our lives in there. It was a pretty fine line," he says. All the more frustrating to Johns is that just this past summer he had to put money into repairs to the roof and kitchen after another fire start- ed in his attic. Nonetheless, Johns is determined to still live on the same piece of land, as soon as possible. "I want to rebuild. I know that for a fact." For the time being Johns and his daughters will stay either with his brother or father, both of which live nearby. As of Monday, Elliot said they had not yet determined a cause for the fire. This Spot Available Call the Huron Expositor 527-0240 y: f SIL S HOME HARDWARE SUPPLIES FOR THE HANDYMAN Bottled Water Refill Station • Plumbing • Heating • Electrical • Paint CARPET CLEANER RENTAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Service & Re -Charge Depot GLASS & SCREEN REPAIR For All Your Hardware Needs Main St., SEAFORTH 527-1620 .40 Ina, MC, Home Cord, AM Exns% hind �lh irai BLA TYLE DESIGN & DRAFTING • Residential and Agricultural Building Design - Certified Building Plans - Realistic 3 -Dimensional computer generated models to help see exactly what your new building or renovation will look like from all angles RIS BLAKE 519 8874918 Seaforth Agricultural Society Office Hours Monday, Wednesday & Friday 12 - 5 pm FACILITIES FOR RENT • Modern Kitchen Facilities • Wheel Chair Accessible • Over 10,000 Square Feet of Indoor Show Area FUNCTIONS FOR WHICH THESE FACILITIES MAY BE USED • BANQUETS • ANNIVERSARIES • MEETINGS • WEDDINGS • BUCK & DOES For Rental Information Call (519) 527-1321 Fax (519) 527-0983 www.c4tha • socie .on.ca hC Elligsen ELECTRIC LIMITED FARM • HOME • COMMERCIAL • POLE LINES • STANDBY SYSTEMS. (519)345.2447 R.R#4 WAL'TON. ONT. 1.14 Nzir Cali Beanie or Tom at the Huron Expositor to book your space on the wall. Phone 519-527-024C