|
|
|
An Ardmore police officer, who escaped his burning home with his family early Thursday, calls the rally of support from his fellow Fraternal Order of Police members, the police department, neighbors and friends “awesome.”
Officer Matt Bell said Friday, “The FOP has already made a donation to help get us back on our feet. And early Thursday Chief Gary Adams called to express his sorrow and let me know the police department would do anything it could to help.”
Bell said he and his wife discovered the blaze about 2 a.m. Thursday.
“My wife woke up and heard something hitting the window. At first she thought it was hail or the branches of a rose bush that needed trimming. I woke out and looked outside and saw nothing but a fireball,” he said.
Bell, his wife, Sarah, who is currently pregnant with the couple’s third child, their two sons, ages 4 and 6, Bell’s mother-in-law, Linda Hyatt, father-in-law, John Hyatt, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and is recovering from brain surgery, and Sarah’s grandmother, June, all managed to flee the burning house without injury. But fire, smoke and water damage have made the home temporarily unlivable.
“The insurance people were just here. They have already called a realty company to find us a rental house that will meet our needs,” Bell said Friday morning. “The thing is my wife’s day care business was in our house and that’s lost — that’s about a quarter of our income.”
Adams said the APD is hoping to help Bell and his wife find a suitable space to operate the day care business on a temporary basis.
“I believe we need about 500 square feet of space,” Adams said.
While the residence can’t be occupied until repairs are completed, Bell said the family hopes to salvage some of the home’s furnishings. However, the blaze destroyed much of the family’s clothing.
The Ardmoreite has launched a drive to collect clothing items the family can use, and Interim City Manager J.D. Spohn said donations of clothing can be dropped off at the APD Records Department, located on the second floor of city hall.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to assist this family,” Spohn said.
Clothing is needed in the following sizes:
* Boy’s size 4 shirts and size 3 pants (adjustable waistband)
* Boy’s size 6 clothing
* Maternity wear
* Women’s tops in size large and pants with elastic waists in size large
* Men’s size large shirts and 34-inch waist pants with a 32-inch inseam
* Men’s size medium shirts
While the fire was a harrowing experience and being displaced from the family home is no picnic, Bell said he and his family aren’t dwelling on the negatives.
“It’s unfortunately sure, but things happen, you can’t let it get you down. You just have to move on with it,” he said.
Marsha Miller 221-6529
An Ardmore police officer, who escaped his burning home with his family early Thursday, calls the rally of support from his fellow Fraternal Order of Police members, the police department, neighbors and friends “awesome.”
Officer Matt Bell said Friday, “The FOP has already made a donation to help get us back on our feet. And early Thursday Chief Gary Adams called to express his sorrow and let me know the police department would do anything it could to help.”
Bell said he and his wife discovered the blaze about 2 a.m. Thursday.
“My wife woke up and heard something hitting the window. At first she thought it was hail or the branches of a rose bush that needed trimming. I woke out and looked outside and saw nothing but a fireball,” he said.
Bell, his wife, Sarah, who is currently pregnant with the couple’s third child, their two sons, ages 4 and 6, Bell’s mother-in-law, Linda Hyatt, father-in-law, John Hyatt, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and is recovering from brain surgery, and Sarah’s grandmother, June, all managed to flee the burning house without injury. But fire, smoke and water damage have made the home temporarily unlivable.
“The insurance people were just here. They have already called a realty company to find us a rental house that will meet our needs,” Bell said Friday morning. “The thing is my wife’s day care business was in our house and that’s lost — that’s about a quarter of our income.”
Adams said the APD is hoping to help Bell and his wife find a suitable space to operate the day care business on a temporary basis.
“I believe we need about 500 square feet of space,” Adams said.
While the residence can’t be occupied until repairs are completed, Bell said the family hopes to salvage some of the home’s furnishings. However, the blaze destroyed much of the family’s clothing.
The Ardmoreite has launched a drive to collect clothing items the family can use, and Interim City Manager J.D. Spohn said donations of clothing can be dropped off at the APD Records Department, located on the second floor of city hall.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to assist this family,” Spohn said.
Clothing is needed in the following sizes:
* Boy’s size 4 shirts and size 3 pants (adjustable waistband)
* Boy’s size 6 clothing
* Maternity wear
* Women’s tops in size large and pants with elastic waists in size large
* Men’s size large shirts and 34-inch waist pants with a 32-inch inseam
* Men’s size medium shirts
While the fire was a harrowing experience and being displaced from the family home is no picnic, Bell said he and his family aren’t dwelling on the negatives.
“It’s unfortunately sure, but things happen, you can’t let it get you down. You just have to move on with it,” he said.
Marsha Miller 221-6529
