Feb 4, 2009 6:45 pm US/Central
Firefighter Fights Fire At His Own Home
RIDGELAND, Wis. (WCCO) ―
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Colin Allen, and his wife Sheri, were about 45 minutes away from home when he got a call on his firefighter radio -- his house was on fire.
CBS
A Wisconsin family is looking for a place to live after a fire destroyed their home. What's unique about this fire is that one of the firefighters on the scene was the actual homeowner.
The fire happened on Monday afternoon in Ridgeland, Wis.
"Everything is gone, not much to save anymore," said Colin Allen, who's been a Ridgeland firefighter for two years.
He never thought his work would become so personal.
"Not in a million years…not at all…it never even crossed my mind that I'd be putting my own out," said Colin.
Colin, and his wife Sheri, were about 45 minutes away from home when he got a call on his radio -- his house was on fire.
"I had a gut feeling that by the time we got home, that the house would be engulfed," said Colin.
Unfortunately, he was right.
"When it's your own and you see everything you've worked for over the years, going up in flames -- it's a real sickening feeling," said Colin.
They think an outdoor heater broke, sending fire into the home.
"Right here is where it got underneath the trailer and went up through the belly of the trailer and into the main bedroom," Colin pointed out.
The family has lived at this home for 17 years and now there's nothing left
"It was all gone, and my kids didn't have a home anymore," said Sheri.
However, Sheri was able to find a keepsake her aunt had given her for a wedding present.
"It's charred, but it's still there," she said.
"We'll be back on our feet soon," said Colin.
The Allen's also have two children who were in school at the time of the fire.
To help the family a fund has been set up at a local bank:
Security Bank
Post Office Box 156
Ridgeland, Wisconsin 54763
Sonya Goins, Producer Contact Sonya
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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