By Vickie Moss
Anderson County Review – December 10, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – December 18, 2013
Barb Watkins heard the call over a police scanner while working at the office of a client Friday night. A house was on fire on 1750 Road east of Garnett. Somehow she knew it was her house, and rushed home.
But as she watched flames devour the place where she and her family have lived since 1982, Watkins couldn’t stand to see it destroyed. So she left.
“I looked in the windows and saw the flames and I thought, ‘I can’t stay here and watch it.’ When I knew they weren’t going to be able to get it out, I had to leave,” Watkins said.
The two-story farm home was destroyed by the fire, which was reported by a passerby at 7:20 p.m. Watkins said her husband, Gene Gehlen, was home cooking dinner when he heard a “popping noise” from the dining room. He saw a wall next to the fireplace was on fire.
An official cause of the fire has not yet been released, but it appears the fire was accidental and caused by a problem with the chimney, J.D. Mersman, Anderson County Emergency Management Director, said. The location of the house, which was about a mile from the nearest hydrant, meant crews had enough water. Cold weather made fighting the fire more dangerous for firefighters, and water lines kept freezing as they attempted to put out the blaze. One firefighter received a minor injury during the incident.
The property, including contents, was covered by insurance, but Watkins said it’s impossible to estimate the value of all that was lost. She and her husband lived without many of the modern amenities most people have become used to. For example, she hasn’t owned a television in 25 years. She doesn’t have many of the electronic gadgets like iPods or tablets. She avoids cheap, pressed wood furniture.
Instead, her early-1900s era home was filled with history. She used many of the same pieces of furniture and other household items that her grandparents had used. Some furniture came from notable people in the community like Thelma Moore, who either gave or sold the pieces to Watkins. Maybe they were valuable, maybe they were just sentimental. Either way, those things are gone.
One of the most historic items lost in the fire was an 1894 Sears & Roebuck western cowboy saddle Watkins displayed in a parade for the City of Garnett’s 150th anniversary.
“I don’t know how you put a price on some of the things I had,” she said. “A lot of memories burned.”
Garnett fire crews were hosting a regional fire training school over the weekend, and the class returned to the scene Saturday to conduct additional training. Watkins said she believes their extra efforts Saturday helped the family recover some personal items.
After the fire, there were some glimmers of hope. Watkins’ children and their spouses searched through the rubble this weekend and found two jewelry boxes. Most of the cheaper, costume jewelry pieces were lost but Watkins found several meaningful pieces that survived. They included some pieces that once belonged to her grandmother, a ring from her mother and a few other items.
Several animals that lived with the family also survived, including an orphaned kitten Watkins was caring for after its mother was hit by a car. Her dogs, a cocker spaniel, a rat terrier and a black lab, all were OK. The family’s horses were able to get far enough away from the smoke and flames.
Despite all the loss, however, Watkins said she has been overwhelmed by the support and kindness from her friends and neighbors. People have offered places to stay, not only for Watkins and her husband but also for their animals.
“It’s wonderful to have a community that takes care of you,” she said. “It makes you glad you live here.”
Watkins runs a cleaning business from her home, and expects to be able to continue the business despite the fire.
Watkins said she also was grateful that the fire occurred in the evening, rather than later that night while she and her husband slept. She said the incident has helped give her perspective.
“It really can happen to anybody,” she said.
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