Woman
rescued from burning building by young men:
Community
rallies to support Terry Hunter
By Jeff Green
A
spectacular fire lit up the morning sky in Cloyne last Thursday
morning, December 4, destroying the house that Terry Hunter had been
living in since the summer.
The
fact that the fire took place during the day turned out to be lucky
because Travis Boomhower, Tyler Woodcock, Danny McNeill and James
Nowell happened to be neaby and they rushed to the house to see if
anyone was inside. They found Terry Hunter in her kitchen phoning
911, and they quickly ushered her out, just before the house became
entirely engulfed in flames.
Ms.
Hunter is a diabetic, and uses a walker.
“The
fire was caused by ‘smoking materials’”, said Fire Chef Casey
Cuddy, “apparently an ashtray that was dumped into a wastebasket
had not gone out.”
The
fire started on the front porch, and quickly spread into the house.
Cuddy
said it was lucky that Terry Hunter escaped unharmed. “We always
tell people to leave the house first, then phone 911. That is always
the safest course.”
Cudy
also said that is tricky for people to enter a buring builiding,
especially if they do not have the training that firefighter have,
““but in this case it is very fortunate the men went in.”
Within
minutes of the building being emptied, the building was fully engaged
by the fire, which also destroyed Hunter's car.
The
first 911 call came in at 9:03; Terry Hunter phoned at 9:04:42, and
firefighters were on hand within 12 to 14 minutes.
“There
was a live hydro wire across the road by the time we got there. We
worked to keep the fire from spreading to the garage, but the house
was gone,” said Casey Cuddy.
Terry
Hunter lives alone, but she had a dog and three cats with her in the
house. One of the cats perished in the fire, but the other two and
the dog made it out.
Since
the fire took place, friends and neighbours have chipped in to help
Terry Hunter. She spent a few days in the home of her neighbour,
Karen Lowndes.
“The
community have really pulled together,” Karen Lowndes said. “A
neighbour had a couch, another had a TV, and people have been
bringing money. Jim Shiner owns a building outside of Northbrook
which has an empty apartment available and he gave Terry a break on
the rent. She moved in on Sunday night. She has really appreciated
all the support.”
A
drop-off has been arranged for Saturday and Sunday, (December 13 and
14) at the building next to Grand’s store in Cloyne. Clothing,
furniture and other items will be accepted between 12 noon and 4 pm
on both days.
Any
items that are not needed by Terry Hunter will be donated to local
charities. For further information call Steve Lancaster at
613-336-1106.
