Brandon Twp.- Elizabeth McGhee was asleep about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning when she was awakened by her son, Charles. The tone of his voice and one look at his face told her something was very wrong.
‘I said, ‘What’s the matter??? McGhee recalled. ‘He said, ‘My room is on fire.??
She flew down the stairs, thinking she could use the fire extinguisher. The glowing red door told her otherwise.
‘I woke everyone and told them to get out of the house,? said McGhee, who escaped the house in the 4100 block of Seymour Lake Road with her son, as well as her husband, also named Charles, and three daughters, Faith, Catherine, and Madeline. She is thankful that three more sons were in Phoenix visiting their uncle, and another son was not at home. Her eldest daughter lives in Kansas City.
Initial reports indicate the fire was accidental. Charles fell asleep with a candle burning in his room. He believes he may have tossed the blankets onto the candle while sleeping, catching them on fire.
Because of a recent painting project, the home’s smoke detectors were not hooked up. Charles woke from the warmth of the fire.
‘He could have been killed,? McGhee said, crying. ‘I can’t imagine if he would have laid there one more minute.?
Fire Chief Bob McArthur said they were lucky Charles woke? which is not typical in these circumstances.
‘One of the problems (in fires) is that the carbon monoxide puts you to sleep and you just stay asleep and keep going farther and farther away and never wake up,? he said. ‘Without smoke detectors, they typically just stay asleep. Just a few seconds later, and the whole room would have been gone with him in it. They’re very fortunate.?
Firefighters arrived within 3 minutes from Station #2 on Sashabaw Road, right around the corner. Within 10 minutes, the fire was under control. McGhee praised the firefighters, calling them very kind, very efficient, very professional.
She was also grateful for their efforts in helping her and her husband, who are veterinarians, to resuscitate one of the family’s cats, Beaner.
‘The firemen were so kind to the cat, all I could think of was, ‘Oh my God, this could have been my kid,?? McGhee said.
Beaner was saved, but another cat died in the fire. Two others escaped unscathed.
McArthur estimates the home sustained $250,000 in damages and said the family will likely not be back in the house until next summer. They are currently staying at a hotel.
McArthur reminds residents to check smoke detectors to ensure they are working and to extinguish candles prior to going to bed. Appliances such as dryers should also be turned off before going to bed or leaving the house.