by Connie Tabbert
Editor
BEACHBURG — A senior citizen has lost his home to fire.
Mervin Ranger, 78, arrived at his Beachburg Road home with his son Blaine pulling in behind him about 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
While they were talking, they could hear noises coming from inside the house and the smoke alarms going off.
“I opened the door and black smoke came out,” Blaine recalled.
He went to the back of the house but didn’t see anything and then heard the kitchen window crash as it was blown out.
He called 911 and then moved the vehicles a safe distance away from the house.
He noted this home was built before the 1920s and is still known as the old Severin farm.
Firefighters from the five Whitewater fire halls responded to the emergency call, Fire Chief Wayne Heubner said. Throughout the fire, about 25 to 30 firefighters were on scene, he noted.
Beachburg’s pumper was used to pump the water while Cobden’s was on standby. There were trucks from all five stations hauling water in the shuttle, which was from the fire hydrant at the corner of Beachburg Road and Anderson Drive in Beachburg to the fire, about eight kilometres away.
The home was fully engulfed by fire by the time the fire department arrived, Chief Heubner said.
“We did an exterior attack only,” he said.
There were several factors making this fire hard to attack, he said. The first is the home was constructed around the 1920s, so it was well constructed with at least one-and-a-half inch boards.
“It was constructed with old fashioned lumber,” the Chief said.
Secondly, sawdust was used for insulation.
“It took a long time to get the fire out due to the insulation,” Chief Heubner said, adding, “The guys couldn’t go in it was too dangerous.
“We had to wait to attack the inside until the walls were burned through,” he explained.
The Beachburg Road was closed between McLaughlin and Hila roads from the time the firefighters arrived until about 10:30 p.m.
It made it easier to shuttle the water and the porta-stations were set up on the road, the chief said.
Chief Heubner said he won’t comment on what he believes is the cause of the fire until Mr. Ranger’s insurers have opportunity to review the burned home to discover their cause. He did note the fire is not suspicious.
Blaine said his father is now living in another home he owns in Beachburg.
The insurance investigators continue to review the burned ruins, but the focus is on the chimney, Blaine said.
“They’re bringing in heavy equipment to take a closer look at the chimney,” he added.
His father is stressed, and while he’s in good health, this fire “is hard on him. He’s lived there for 25 years. And now it’s all gone. All he has are the clothes on his back.”
Blaine said the neighbours and Beachburg community have been supportive of his father, donating items he needs. His immediate needs have been taken care of.
Blaine said it’s nice to see the support from the community, noting he’s not surprised, but his father is humbled by the response to his tragedy.
There was insurance on the house, but Mervin did not have tenant insurance, Blaine said.
He’s hopeful once the area is cleared, he can build again, possibly a two-bedroom bungalow for his father.
