Times Advocate, 1994-12-21, Page 29Rick Reabum (top) stands with what is left of the ladder he used to reach a now -
gone second storey of his Grand Bend area home for a heroic rescue of his son
from the fire that destroyed the house Thursday night. Above is daughter Jennifer
Reabum with three of her friends who stopped by to see the devastation the next
moming. At left is the box at the Big V Store in Exeter, just one of the symbols of
community support for a family that lost nearly everything just befre Christmas.
IP
Frenchman's Inn
Restaurant
Everyday 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Dinner starting at $16.95
235-2008
Third Section - December 21 1994
Father braves
fire for son
"We're the happiest people in
the world this morning," said an
overjoyed Rick Reaburn
GRAND BEND - Standing near
the ashes and rubble of his home
Friday morning, Rick Reaburn
could only speak of how happy he
was. The destruction of property
and possessions took a back seat to
the dramatic rescue of his son Mi-
chael, .14, from the burning home
the night before.
Reaburn was returning to his
home near the Grand Bend Airport
after picking up his other son Chris
from a high school dance in Exeter.
He could see the flames from quite
a distance away, but didn't realize
their source.
"I didn't know it was our house,"
said Reaburn. "I thought it was the
parachute school."
When he realized it was his own
house burning, he feared the worst
for Michael asleep upstairs in his
bedroom. With his daughter Jen-
nifer also at the dance, and wife
Anne at another event that night.
Michael was all alone.
Reaburn said his car had barely
stopped rolling in the driveway
when he leaped out and grabbed a
ladder leaning against his boat.
With the help of two passersby
from Stratford, Reaburn was able to
climb to a second -storey balcony
.aad kick .in its door. The intense...
heat and smoke drove him back. =--
"It was so hot, just rushing up the
stairs....I thought he was dead."
confessed Reaburn, who continued
his rescue efforts all the same.
He doesn't remember how he
broke the bedroom window, but he
climbed inside and brought Mi-
chael out.
Perhaps the one thing that saved
his son, said Reaburn, was that the
bedroom door was closed to the fire
outside.
"We're the happiest people in the
world this morning," said Reaburn.
almost oblivious to the loss of his
4,000 square foot home and all its
contents.
"I know we're going to be miss-,
ing a lot of things," he said. but
added all of them seemed some-
what unimportant compared to the
fact that all five members of the
family were alive and well
Michael was taken to hospital for
treatment of smoke inhalation, and
a few stitches for cuts from the res-
cue, but Reaburn said his son is go-
ing to be alright.
Firefighters from Grand Bend
were quickly on the scene, but even
with help from other local de-
partments. were unable to halt the
complete destruction of the house.
Reaburn's electronics shop behind
the house was saved, however.
As for the cause of the fire, Re-
aburn said he can only guess that
there might have been a problem
with Christmas tree lights. or may-
be a stove that had been acting up.
Fire investigators would certainly
have their work cut out for them to
pinpoint the cause out of the
charred bricks and rubble left from
the turn -of -the -century home.
Even though the property was
fully insured, many local residents
are making donations to help the
Reaburns through the Christmas
season and to get them hack on
their feet. The Big V Stores in both
Grand Bend and Exeter are ac-
cepting • donations of blankets,
clothing; and ,honey.
Stephen Township Minor Hock-
ey. of which both Michael and
Chris Reaburn are members, are
collecting cash donations at the are-
na for the family.
South Huron District High
School students and staff also made
a quick collection of money for the
family on the last day of school Fri-
day, bringing in about $900.
With the remains of their home
still smoking Friday morning. local
real estate agents were already
searching for a place for the family
to stay while their home and lives
can be rebuilt. A home was found.
offered to them by a family who
summers at Grand Bend.
Ph: (519) 235-2757
Fax: (519) 235-4067
1 only ... PUMA 340 2UP
1 only ... EXT 580 carb
1 only ... ZR580 carb
2 only ...JAG Deluxe 440
1 only ... EXT 580 EFI
1 only ...ZR 580 EFI
1 only ... Pantera
2 only ...Z440 ARCTIC CAT
% bta tC
116 FREE BOOTS
and COVER
PURCHASE ANY IN -STOCK UNIT BEFORE
DEC. 31/94 AND RECEIVE
ALL INSTOCK PARTS AND ACCES. ARE 15% OFF UNTIL DEC. 31/94
CALL DARRELL TODAY FOR DETAILS .• OPEN FRI. UNTIL it P.M. • SAT. 9.4
1994 has been another very busy year and the
holiday season always reminds us how we have
been blessed. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank you, a friend and customer,
for your continued support. Your patronage has
allowed our business to grow and provide careers
and opportunities for more than twenty-five
conscientious and dedicated employees.
On behalf of our staff and management, we wish
you and your family the very best for the
upcoming festive season and we look forward to
serving you in 1995 and the years beyond.
Bill and Bob
eeiCtrogr Ph: (519) 235-7.75 ,'
... - Products Inc. Fax: (519) 235-406
FARM EQUIPMENT - EXETER, ONTARIO
Sales, Service & Rentals since 1932
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