Published: November 21, 2008 04:25 pm            

Family loses home after fire rekindles

Andersons credit dog with warning

MARSHES SIDING — Whitley City firefighters successfully battled a house fire early Friday morning only to see the structure destroyed when the

fire rekindled later in the day.

The home of Wendy and Frank Anderson first caught fire at approximately 4 a.m. Friday morning. The Andersons were awakened by their beagle Sadie and escaped with her two older children (ages nine and six) through a window that Frank broke out. Three younger children three-year-old twins and a five-month-old baby) had spent the night with their grandmother.

Apart from a cut Frank received on his leg, the family was unharmed.

Once his family was safe, Frank went back inside to retrieve Sadie who had hidden under a bed in fear.

“She saved our lives,” Wendy told The Record.

Volunteer firefighters were on scene for nearly two hours initially and managed to contain the fire within the living room and kitchen, though it was damaged by smoke and water. The fire is believed to have started from a short-circuited television set.

The Andersons left the scene to take the two children to their grandfather and to pick up some clothes from the Whitley City Elementary Family Resource Center. By the time the couple returned at 10 a.m. to retrieve what they could of their belongings, firefighters were back battling a fully-involved blaze.

"We've lost everything," Wendy cried.

The young mother was especially upset at the loss of mementos, including items that belonged to her late mother (who had been born in

the house, which originally belonged to Lena Stephens but is currently owned by Fred Foster).

“That’s why we wanted to rent this place,” Wendy said.

The father of Wendy’s older children passed away just last year. Though certain gifts to his children were lost, Wendy was grateful to Whitley City Fire Chief Tony Miller who had retrieved his photograph at her son Austin’s request after the first fire had been contained.

Since their home was destroyed, the Andersons have been amazed by the support they have received from the community.

“Everyone’s been chipping in,” Frank said, “even the littlest things you wouldn’t normally think of.”

        

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