On the morning of Sept. 5, Dierdre Mayden’s phone rang several times while she was starting her nursing shift at Mercy Hospital. Upon answering, she was overcome with fear — her home was on fire.
Mayden and her family had lived in their Willard home for almost three years. Her husband and three kids got out safely after the home’s garage caught fire and the air vents began filling with smoke.
Assistant Chief Kevin Samsel of the Willard Fire Protection District said fires usually take a while to build, but this one had already grown with flames coming through the roof and heavy smoke filling the air by the time firefighters were on their way in response.
Samsel said the fire response team, which also included Republic Fire Department, Ash Grove Fire Protection District, Ebenezer Fire Protection District and Brookline Fire Protection District, got the blaze under control with the use of three water lines within 20 minutes but by that time it had already destroyed the family’s home, their cars and all of their belongings. The family’s three dogs and two of three cats were able to escape the fire, with firefighters later recovering a turtle and lizard, as well.