Harper Advocate – December 4, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – December 19, 2013
Although it doesn’t look like it from the outside, estimated $50,000 damage was done by fire to the home of the Allen Yoder’s last Tuesday evening at 406 West College Street west of the Harper ball fields.
According to Yoder who received a minor burn to his hand trying to get to a fire extinguisher, a pan of food on the cooking stove of the home at the west end caught fire.
He, his wife Lisa who is a third grade teacher at Harper Elementary School and nine month old daughter were all at home and escaped the house as the fire grew quickly to include cabinetry above the stove.
The Harper Fire Department was called and arrived about five minutes later to find a house full of smoke and fire showing in the kitchen and extending to a family room just south of the kitchen.
Firemen were successful in stopping the actual fire in those two rooms.
The fire was so hot that it melted light fixtures and plastic items all the way to the east side of the home. Smoke damage was extensive. Water damage was limited to the kitchen and family room area and areas of the basement below those two rooms which were gutted by the flames.
Sixteen Harper firefighters with four pieces of apparatus were assisted in mopping up by several Anthony firemen and one truck due to automatic mutual aid between the two towns.
Allen Yoder who is employed by Harper Industries said that the house was insured. This week insurance adjusters were on scene and a restoration company was at work.
The family has temporarily moved to his parents’ (Stan Yoder) home in Kingman.
Fire Chief Ken Leu said this is the time of the year for the most home fires and residents should be reminded to check that their smoke detectors are working and if they go off all residents should quickly exit the house as fires spread very rapidly.
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