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Mad River Twp. blaze may have started in garage

Marshall Gorby/Springfield News-Sun Fire burns a home at 3451 Rebert Pike in Clark County's Mad River Twp., Thursday Oct. 15, 2009.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Staff photo by Marshall Gorby The call for help was reported around 9 a.m. by the homeowner who told dispatchers that half the house was engulfed.

ENLARGE PHOTO

A fire, in a home on Rebert Pike in Mad River Twp., destroyed the two-story home with an attached garage Thursday, Oct. 15.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Mad River Twp. home destroyed

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Staff photo by Marshall Gorby The fire, in a home on Rebert Pike in Mad River Twp., destroyed a single-story home with an attached garage.

By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 9:51 PM Thursday, October 15, 2009

MAD RIVER TWP. — John Howell and Barbara Stockley were getting ready to run a few errands Thursday, Oct. 15, when Howell noticed thick, dark smoke outside his second-story bedroom window.

Minutes later, he stood outside watching with friends and neighbors as a large section of the home he’d lived in for almost 60 years was reduced to a sooty, black rubble.

No one was injured in the fire at 3451 Rebert Pike, but most of Howell’s two-story, four-bedroom home was destroyed. Howell, 80, said he wasn’t sure how the fire started, but once it began, it quickly tore through the home.

“We got out with what we got on here,” Howell said. “It came fast.”

Howell said he had lived in the house since he got out of the Navy in the 1950s. He said he had spent years working to renovate the home.

Howell said as he fled the house he grabbed a flashlight to make it easier to see. But the smoke was so thick it was useless.

While many of their belongings were destroyed in the fire, Bill Hoelscher, a volunteer firefighter, was able to save some of the family’s photos, which went back for generations, relatives said.

Kurt Werner, a firefighter with Mad River Twp., said the fire apparently began in a garage and workshop area shortly before 9 a.m. It’s unclear how the fire started, but the home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

Because of a lengthy driveway leading up to the residence, Werner said firefighters had to run about 2,000 feet of water line from the road to get water to the house.

He said about 25 volunteer firefighters were on the scene, including assistance from Bethel, Hustead and Springfield townships. No damage estimate was available, and it is unclear whether the home can be saved. “What is standing has sustained a lot of smoke damage,” Werner said.

For now, Howell said, he plans to live in a mobile home on his property.

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Everyone should be happy nobody was harmed physically by such a tragedy. And thankfull for ALL the those that helped out!!

family of a friend
10:01 PM, 10/18/2009

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Anyone think they can do better, PLEASE JOIN your local VOLUNTEER FD. Not only was there a great stop & most of the structure saved, Enon FD had tankers from not only the depts. listed and mentioned, but also Wright Patt, Yellow Springs, and Pitchin. We call for tankers when we know their needed. Know-it-alls should become part of the solution instead of sitting at their computer screen showing their IQ. ALSO, Life and then property preservation, we dont risk our lives for unsavable structures.

Another Firefighter
11:55 AM, 10/16/2009

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God Bless!

shari McDoanld
11:17 AM, 10/16/2009

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All of you should be ashame, all of this bickering back and forth! Not one time did any of you mention to Mr. Howell to contact you for help. Where are your manners? Neighbors helping neighbors, good or bad.

Mr. Howell please feel free to contact me 937-206-6343.

FYI I am a very proud sister of two brothers who are both firefighters - These men and women do the best job they can in all circumstances.

God

shari McDonald
11:15 AM, 10/16/2009

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Homeowner, you really have no clue, do you? Enon immediately called for tankers, just like every other department in the county would. Bethel Twp and Husted were automatic, and the others came in quick succession. Any belief that a fire department would ASSUME anything is ridculous. We KNOW where hydrants are or aren't located. Next time, try researching your subject before offering such uninformed opinions.

Karpis
10:30 AM, 10/16/2009

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