Community rebuilds lives following fire

A year after a fire destroyed four townhomes in the 300 block of Kleinshore Road residents still feel the sting of their loss, but their resilience and focus on community have helped them rebuild not only their homes but their lives, as well.

The July 1, 2017, fire, which also damaged three other homes, was initially blamed on a vehicle fire set off by fireworks, based on witnesses' statements, but an official investigation and security footage later determined the fire's origin was an electrical problem in a vehicle.

"I got the report about two weeks ago and it says that the fire started due to a faulty wire. ... it was a holiday weekend and we had a lot of extra people in the neighborhood. I told a neighbor she could park it there ... (a faulty wire) arced and started the fire that destroyed my home and the others," said Kleinshore resident Monte Dilick.

It took two months to complete the forensic investigation of the fire. Dilick said investigators were out in full force surveying the area and taking samples of ash from the piles of burned rubble, which finally led them to the vehicle.

Dilick said the specific wire that caused the fire had previously been pulled from the manufacturing process on similar models but the vehicles that had already been sold with the faulty wire were never recalled.

He said an agreement he and many of his neighbors signed with their insurance companies prevent them from seeking compensation for the damages directly from the vehicle's manufacturer, but Dilick said their insurance companies will.

The fire that originated in the carport of Dilick's 1940s home quickly spread to other homes despite attempts to fight it off with garden hoses.

Fire Chief Autumn Carlisle of the 70 West Fire Department said last year that the fire started in the carport area, which runs the length of the four homes, which are also connected by a shared deck that gave the fire an additional route south after starting in the northernmost townhome.

Within 20 minutes, Dilick said his house was consumed by flames. Several of the people living on the shoreline of Lake Hamilton relied on good Samaritans in passing boats to rescue them.

"It was traumatic. You lose things that can never be replaced. It's photographs and notes from loved ones that are gone. It's a tragedy; I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy," Dilick said.

Although her home was not destroyed, Kleinshore resident Pam Bell said the process of renovating her house to make it livable has made her experience all the more traumatic. Bell's home suffered heavy smoke and water damage as a result of firefighters from eight different fire departments working to save her home and two others.

"My house was halfway burned. Basically, (the fire) destroyed the front of my house. The intense heat was in excess of 2,000 degrees so it went through that house and damaged surfaces like ceilings and walls. The heat, the soot, and the smoke caused my house to basically need to be entirely redone," Bell said.

She was initially told her house would be ready to move back into just three months after a fire, but Bell said she is still living in her camper awaiting the day she can return to her home.

"The insurance company has been very generous about allowing us to stay wherever we want to stay. At first, I stayed at Kleinshore in an apartment two doors down but that was too frustrating with the cleanup, smoke, and toxic dust that was all down there," Bell said.

Bell decided that living in her camper would be better for her and her family, considering her daughter recently underwent a kidney transplant.

Throughout the process of clearing the rubble and getting the lots ready to sell, Dilick said the help he received from his neighbors helped cement his desire to stay within the same area after selling the lot where his home once stood. Even those lucky enough to come out of the fire without damage offered to help those whose homes were destroyed or damaged.

"This is home. We were all helping each other out by referring roofers, plumbers, and all of that. Anytime someone ran into a problem, the community was there to help them find a solution," he said.

Only one of the four lots is still up for sale, and Dilick said he is optimistic those moving in are upstanding citizens who will make a positive contribution to the small community. Bell said her staying will depend on whether the property owner's association ensures the construction of new homes preserves the historical integrity of the area.

"I plan to stay, for now, but it's really going to depend greatly on the rebuilding up above and how that goes. Right now, it looks like we have new owners that are on board but we don't know what it will be like. A lot of whether I stay or not depends on the new owners and how the POA handles the rebuilding process," she said.

"I do feel like we are headed in a positive direction. Anytime there is something traumatic like a fire, it really makes you see what is important in life. ... We didn't lose anyone in the fire and everyone got out safely. We realized what was important and what wasn't," Bell said.

Local on 07/08/2018

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