Erickson Fire Update!

Wood Burning Stove To Blame

The Erickson house nearly burned to the ground.  The Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department in Newcastle, Wyoming saved the surrounding buildings from burning and they did a great job putting out the huge fire in the main house.  Great Job to the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department! When KASL Radio first reported on scene it appeared as though everything on the property would be burned to the ground and lost forever.  You can’t burn a high spirit!

KASL went back October 2, 2009 to get the latest and we were shocked to find the surrounding buildings were left undamaged.  Most of the contents in the house were lost.  All caused by a wood burning stove that was being used to burn old cardboard boxes (as many of us have before).

How often have you disposed of old boxes by burning them in your wood burning stove?  It sounds like a great way to get rid of them, and usually is.  That was how it all started on Tuesday afternoon at the home of Dr. Wayne B. and Suzanne Erickson.

The boxes were lit; the stove door was closed as the boxes began to burn.  With little air getting to the blaze the fire box filled with hot smoke.  When the door was reopened, air rushed in igniting the blaze in a flash that blew burning pieces of paper on to the carpet.  The tragedy began!  Minutes later the house was lost.

“Other than Suzanne singeing some of her hair no one was injured in the fire” Dr. Erickson confirmed.  The things that were lost, “just stuff” Erickson sighed agreeably.

“This” reporter can only imagine how it would feel if it was “just stuff”.   How could you ever account for “just stuff”?  Your whole life “up in smoke”-no punn intended.

When I talked to Dr. Erickson he asked me to, “please thank the members of the community!  You can’t imagine the outpouring of support!  Clothing from Pamida, people opening their homes, offering rooms for us to stay in!  What a community, these people are amazing! We appreciate every one of them!”   Dr. and Mrs. Erickson also thanked the staff at KASL for getting the pictures of the fire on the web site so fast.  Because of that, friends and family from around the world, were able to feel closer in this time of tragedy.

In surveying the damage of this fire, I was truly amazed by the efforts of our Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department!  It was truely amazing.  This group of individuals truly do make up the best Volunteer Fire Department in the state!  While the house was lost, there are buildings as close as foot away that weren’t even singed or smoke damaged.  There are many trees that were very close to the house that hardly show any fire damage at all.  The garden next to the house was mostly lost as shown in the picture.

While the loss of the house is a tragedy, it could have been a lot worse, very easily.  Thank you NVFD from the Erickson’s and every one of us that that you spend your precious time protecting!

Erickson, in pretty good spirits considering what had happened he seemed as though it wasn’t the end of the world.  What a great soul he is!

Dr. Erickson a great guy and a great family man.  He and his family will rise above this awful tragedy.   He plans on rebuilding one day.

While we were there, he hurriedly carried what belongings he had left but nothing fazed him as he knew tomorrow was a new day.

If  you would like to inquire about where donations can be made please contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Newcastle, Wyoming.