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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-01-24, Page 9The Huron Expositor • January 24, 2007 Page 9 News Fire leaves McCallum family homeless in McKillop Susan H u n d e r t m a r k It wasn't until his alarm system started to beep that Carl McCallum looked out his workshop window last Tuesday around 1:45 p.m. to see the smoke billowing out of his house in McKillop. "The phone must have shorted out in the house with the fire and the alarm system started beeping. I saw the smoke, ran up to the house and it was just black everywhere. I couldn't see where the flames were - just smoke," he says of the fire that ended up gutting his house. Seaforth firefighters responded to the call on Hullett-McKillop Road next door to Family Paradise Campground and fought the fire all afternoon and into the evening, returning to the Seaforth fire hall around 8:30 p.m. Grey firefighters were also called to the scene to help supply water in tanker trucks. "There were flames coming out the front room facing the road when we arrived," says Huron East Fire Chief Marty Bedard. Bedard says that while the cause and where the fire began are not yet clear, the fire - which destroyed 7 the house and all of its contents - was "stubborn," getting into the attic and between the walls. "It was a reno- vated mobile home with a two to three-foot crawlspace and the fire spread quickly under- neath," says Bedard. With McCallum and the family Submitted photo Seaforth firefighters battle a house fire last Tuesday afternoon on the Hullett- McKillop Road. dog in the workshop behind the house, his wife \ Tabb at work and their children at school, no one was in the house at the time of the fire. "Tabb's sister came over and sifted through the rumble and came up with a few photo albums that were frozen together and It's incredible how wonderful every- one's been. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else,' -- Carl McCallum burned at the edges but I think there may be some photos that can STRATFORD AIR SERVICES Call Today } 519-271-4881 be saved. We lost a lot of things with sentimental value," says McCallum. - He adds that a wedding picture signed by all the guests will be diffi- cult to replace but they're hoping to track down the guests to re-sign a replacement photo. McCallum says friends and neigh- bours have been very generous pro- viding a pick-up truckload of cloth- ing, bedding and food for his home- less family currently staying with the neighbours at Family, Paradise. "It's been incredible how wonder- ful everyone's been. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else," says McCallum. He also praises the firefighters who fought the blaze in extreme cold and wind. "They were just covered in ice and were wet and they just kept at it," he says. McCallum says local businesses have also been providing donations of cash, gift cards, clothing and food. As well, the Seaforth Optimist Club, of which the McCallums are members, held a bowling tourna- ment with clubs in Clinton and Brussels and donated the proceeds to the McCallums. "Everything from the bowling to the hotdogs and food sold went to the family," says Optimist member Lisa Harper. "We're going to do whatever we can to help out." McCallum says he hopes the fami- ly can rebuild in the same location. I N V7 E S i 1 iEN T S \ I. A l U R I N( j' Consider these rates! Term 10 --Year 7 — Year 5 — Year 4 — Year 3 — Year 2 — Year Subordinated Debentures Interest Paid Annually 8.00 7.25 6.50 % 6.25 %, 5.75 % 5.50 % Demand Loan ('ertificates (Interest Paid Monthly) All rates are subject to change. For further information about your investment opportunities with H»C, access our website at www.h tc.on.cn Interest Paid Monthly 7.50 % 6.75. % 6.00 % 5.75 %) 5.25 % 5.00 %, 4.00 % HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE, INC. This advertisement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of -offers to buy any securities. The offering is made only by the prospectus. Investors should read the prospectus carefully. HDC debentures arc not covered by Canada Deposit Insurance. 1 Davidson Dr. P.O. Box 219 Ilensall, Ontario NOM 1 XO (519) 262-3002 www.hdc.on.ca Ontario's largest agricultural co-operative, !MC has successfully offered investments to its members for 70 years. NUC debentures arc issucd at no commission charge to investors, provide fixed income to your portfolios and are not RRSP eligible. ENSALL !STRICT O -OPERATIVE Proud to befnrmer-owned