The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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January 31, 2009

“I can’t believe it’s all gone.”

Soldier's house a total loss

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL

OAKWOOD — The family of a local member of the military suffered a blow Saturday when its house burned to the ground.

Larry Brewer, who is serving in Afghanistan, lived with his wife, Kathleen, and two children, Liz and Kyle, at 204 S. Olmstead St. in Oakwood.

Oakwood Fire Protection District responded to a call at the address just before noon Saturday. Chief Tony Frye said the white, single-story home was decimated in the fire, with the center section of the home already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Kathleen Brewer and her daughter were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in after having breathing problems, possibly from asthma, at the fire scene. She was treated and released from the hospital later in the afternoon and returned to the fire scene. The family is staying with Larry Brewer’s mother, according to a representative from the local American Red Cross chapter. The chapter also assisted with immediate needs for food and clothing.

“I can’t believe it’s all gone.” Kathleen “Katie” Brewer, 42, said by telephone Saturday evening. “I’m not sure exactly what’s going to happen (next).”

Brewer still is trying to reach her husband. She did send him an e-mail after the fire. The couple exchanges instant messages each morning and evening, so she missed Saturday evening’s exchange.

“He’ll be even more anxious to find out what’s going on,” she said.

Frye, who went to high school with Larry Brewer, said this is at least his second if not third tour in the Middle East. Brewer, who serves in the National Guard, works in a vehicle recovery unit.

The American Red Cross ordinarily makes requests to soldier’s commanding officer for a leave in order to deal with a death. Jamie Davis of the local Red Cross chapter was waiting Saturday night to speak to the Brewer family about assistance.

Davis said she expected such a request to be made for Larry Brewer to return home as a result of Saturday’s house fire. Red Cross specialists in Louisville, Ky., make arrangements in such circumstances.

Oakwood fire was at the scene for almost six hours, working to keep control of smoldering debris from the fire. Kickapoo Fire Protection District responded in mutual aid for the fire.

The house is considered a total loss.

Frye said the fire was caused by a forced air heater placed in the crawl space underneath the house to warm frozen pipes.

Brewer’s son was using the heater to thaw out the pipe when he smelled something. A check under the house revealed nothing, but he saw flames along the wall after returning inside.

Frye said it’s unknown what was ignited by the heater, although there was some straw in the crawlspace of the home. He said a door left open combined with a hole in the floor of the house from repairs to help the flames spread quickly through the building.

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