Press-Republican

Local News

Related Photos

  • A charred stove stands in front of a Morrisonville home damaged by fire Thursday. (P-R Photo/Michael Betts)

    fire

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
comments powered by Disqus
April 23, 2009

Couple injured in house fire

<a href="mailto:avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com">By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG</a>

MORRISONVILLE — John Rice had just turned on the stove to fry chicken and walked into another room when an orange glow caught his eye.

Within seconds, he realized flames were erupting inside the kitchen of his Evergreen Street mobile home.

Rice frantically ran to the back bedroom, where Lisa Miller had just settled in for the night, and told her that their brand-new house was on fire.



INJURED

As Miller ran outside, Rice tried to douse the growing flames with a blanket, singing his hands, while Morrisonville and District 3 firefighters geared up for the emergency Wednesday night.

“The smoke was just ungodly, but we got out right away,” Miller said Thursday afternoon as she sorted through the rubble covering their kitchen.

After escaping with minor injuries, the couple waited outside with their two dogs as volunteers arrived to extinguish the flames.

They were later taken to CVPH Medical Center. Rice was treated for burns. Miller was evaluated for a concussion, which she suffered when she slipped and fell while running from the electrical blaze, which appeared to have erupted inside a kitchen wall.



FLAREUP AT NIGHT

Though a portion of their kitchen was charred, the couple returned home early Thursday morning and settled into bed for a few hours of rest.

Miller later woke and detected smoke but assumed the haze was remnants from the fire hours earlier.

But a short time later, a neighbor called after spotting a new wave of smoke drifting from the roof.

Rice and Miller once again fled their home, and firefighters returned to stifle the flames.

The rekindle caused more damage to the kitchen, leaving a large hole in the wall and burned debris covering the floor, counters and nearby table.



‘DEVASTATING’

As they pulled blackened possession onto their front lawn Thursday and waited for an insurance agent to survey the damage, the couple tried to stay positive.

“At least it didn’t get to everything,” Rice said as he looked over his smoke-damaged living-room furniture.

“But this is devastating.”

They were in contact with Red Cross officials Thursday and said they would be staying in a local hotel as they recover.

Though the fires heavily damaged a portion of the home, which they moved into last October, their spirits were strong.

“We have a lot of family and friends, and we can pull through,” Miller said optimistically.



E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
New Today
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up

Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service