Friday, March 30, 2001
Friday, March 30, 2001 |
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Family escapes house fire in Ardenlee subdivision Fund established to assist Nemeth family, whose members are grateful to be alive
By JOHN
MUNFORD Her home reduced to rubble by a fire early Wednesday morning, Barbara Nemeth worries about replacing the family memories that were lost in the flames. "There were so many things I was keeping for the kids," she said. "I'm 45 and my memory's not so good. How am I going to remember all that?" The kids have already started remembering as they sifted through dresser drawers chock full of intact memories. "Look David, there's your x-ray!" says Jaclyn, a third-grader, holding up a rendering of the broken finger he had years ago. Jaclyn also found her journals, pasted on cereal boxes, although some were wet. Corinne, for one, was just happy to be alive. Especially considering that everyone was asleep when the flames broke out. "My mom saved our lives," she said, watching from a perch on the neighbor's trampoline as fire investigators study the remains of the house. "Minutes after we were out of the house, the roof was in flames." Although investigation of the fire isn't complete, it's likely that it may have started at the pool's water pumping system, said Fire Marshal John Dailey. "We had one eyewitness who saw the fire early and indicated that flames were actually coming from that pump area," Dailey said. "That's the direction we're leaning in, but we still have a few more questions to ask before we wrap it up." Mrs. Nemeth was sleeping on the couch downstairs when she heard the smoke detectors go off. She traced the smoke, saw the fire, and rushed upstairs to wake the kids and get them out. "It was the smoke alarms that saved us," Mrs. Nemeth said. "You couldn't smell the smoke yet, but there was a smell like plastic melting in the dishwasher. I can't believe it all spread so quickly." Her husband was out of town on business, so Mrs. Nemeth had to act quickly to save the kids on her own ... or did she? "I wasn't alone. I had God [with me]," she said firmly, as to erase any trace of doubt. Just hours after the fire, the kids were handling themselves well. As Corinne said, "We've had time to shed our tears already." Mrs. Nemeth said she was extremely grateful for the support she has received from her close neighbors and friends at St. Paul Lutheran School, who showed up around 3 a.m. to help out. "They have been so great," Mrs. Nemeth said, adding that she couldn't stress enough how much those folks helped out. "Just wonderful." There was even a time for laughter Wednesday morning when Corinne recalled that her chemistry book was left in the house also. "Darnn!" she said, cracking a wide smile and a sarcastic look on her face. "Write that down," Mrs. Nemeth says, "My daughter says she's sorry her chemistry book burned up!" Mrs. Nemeth managed to save some family photos, grabbing a tupperware container of them on her way out the door when the blaze was discovered. Firefighters were also able to save some family valuables, Dailey indicated. As for the sad state of the house itself, she's not too upset. "It's just four walls," she said. "It can be rebuilt." A fund has been established to assist the Nemeth family with its immediate needs. Checks may be made out to St. Paul Lutheran School with a note at the bottom designating it for the "Nemeth family fund". Donations may be dropped off at the school office at 700 Ardenlee Parkway from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or mailed in also. For more information, contact Principal Kathy Barr at 770-486-3545.
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