SYCAMORE – Lee Newtson has organized and taken part in numerous collections for families that lost their homes, but his latest effort follows a tragedy that hit very close to home.
Newtson lives at 2535 Lilac Lane, in the Edgebrook mobile home community and near the mobile home 2425 Chestnut St., which was heavily damaged after a fire ripped through it Monday afternoon.
Newtson is asking that members of the community send money, clothes, baby toys, whatever a family might need to start over. It’s his understanding that the resident, Allison Hall, lives with her partner and her infant daughter.
“When people lose absolutely everything, they’ve got to start from scratch,” Newtson said.
He would know. He has worked at disaster sites such as ground zero in New York City, and Joplin, Missouri, and Fairdale, Washington, Ridgway, and Harrison, Illinois cities and villages that have been ravaged by tornadoes.
The Sycamore Fire Department has not yet confirmed that the mobile home was a total loss, although it appears to be a foregone conclusion. Fire Chief Pete Polarek said the home was about one-third consumed.
“Structurally, I don’t know whether it would be possible to rebuild it,” he said.
Assistant Fire Chief Todd Turner said no one was hurt.
The fire started at the shed before spreading to the house, Newtson said.
“I heard a couple of explosions – that had to be the gas tank on the snowblower and the gas can,” he said.
Polarek said all that’s left of the shed is charred remains.
The state fire marshal was on site Monday to investigate the fire, and the Red Cross was there, as well, to help the family relocate. Sycamore Police Department detectives are also investigating.
Charlie Sharp, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, said he can’t disclose details about the family’s recovery, as they’re confidential.
Newtson said people can mail him donations, which he’ll get to the family as soon as possible, or they can call 630-643-1231 for information or set up a time to drop off a donation.