2008 Woodie Awards
Friday morning fire destroys CMU employee's home
Family all safe following blaze that leveled landmark
By: Meredith Mayberry
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
No one was home when Denise Smith's family lost most of their Nottawa Township home to a fire this past weekend.
Smith, administrative clerk at Central Michigan University's Registrar's Office, was at CMU and her husband, Earl Smith, was in Connecticut while their two daughters were at school.
"Our oldest daughter, Jessica, got to school and realized she forgot her English homework," Smith said. "She turned around and drove home."
Jessica saw smoke when she reached 2409 W. Jordan Road, Smith said.
"When she got closer she could see the flames in the upper and lower floors of our house," the mother said.
About 25 firefighters fought the flames for more than two hours Friday morning. Four fire departments, an ambulance and the Red Cross were at the scene.
"I got a phone call at work from someone I didn't even know. They told me my house was on fire," said Denise Smith. "Now all that's left is a chimney and a garage."
Coworkers have mobilized to support Smith and her family, said Shannon Browne, graduation auditor in Undergraduate Services.
"We did a quick collection and went out to buy her family some essentials, like toiletries and a few gift cards," Browne said. "Just to get them through the weekend."
Officials have not yet determined the fire's cause.
"The firefighters told us that because of all the damage, we may never know what started it," Smith said. "But I'd really like to."
The house had been in Earl Smith's family for almost 100 years.
"My husband grew up in that house, so it's been difficult for him," Smith said. "But men are so much different than women as far as emotions go. He's sad to see it gone, but happy that we're all safe."
The family is staying at a Mount Pleasant hotel. They hope to rebuild on the same land as the original house, Smith said.
"It's all up in the air right now," she said. "But my family is safe and I have memories to hold onto. That will have to be enough."
news@cm-life.com
Smith, administrative clerk at Central Michigan University's Registrar's Office, was at CMU and her husband, Earl Smith, was in Connecticut while their two daughters were at school.
"Our oldest daughter, Jessica, got to school and realized she forgot her English homework," Smith said. "She turned around and drove home."
Jessica saw smoke when she reached 2409 W. Jordan Road, Smith said.
"When she got closer she could see the flames in the upper and lower floors of our house," the mother said.
About 25 firefighters fought the flames for more than two hours Friday morning. Four fire departments, an ambulance and the Red Cross were at the scene.
"I got a phone call at work from someone I didn't even know. They told me my house was on fire," said Denise Smith. "Now all that's left is a chimney and a garage."
Coworkers have mobilized to support Smith and her family, said Shannon Browne, graduation auditor in Undergraduate Services.
"We did a quick collection and went out to buy her family some essentials, like toiletries and a few gift cards," Browne said. "Just to get them through the weekend."
Officials have not yet determined the fire's cause.
"The firefighters told us that because of all the damage, we may never know what started it," Smith said. "But I'd really like to."
The house had been in Earl Smith's family for almost 100 years.
"My husband grew up in that house, so it's been difficult for him," Smith said. "But men are so much different than women as far as emotions go. He's sad to see it gone, but happy that we're all safe."
The family is staying at a Mount Pleasant hotel. They hope to rebuild on the same land as the original house, Smith said.
"It's all up in the air right now," she said. "But my family is safe and I have memories to hold onto. That will have to be enough."
news@cm-life.com
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