Fire destroys home outside Edwardsville

February 09, 2012 8:20 PM

EDWARDSVILLE - A family fled for their lives early Thursday morning as a suspected electrical fire swept through their rural Edwardsville home, killing two dogs.

The family of Tom and Denise Wieseman lost their home and most of their belongings when an apparent garage spark led to a blaze at the house at 5502 North Hazel Road, an area north of Illinois Route 157, about midway between Edwardsville and Hamel. The fire was reported just after 5 a.m.

"We lost everything," Tom Wieseman said later Thursday morning as he combed through the remains, looking for tools and other items he might salvage.

The house was somewhat historic, Tom Wieseman said, noting that it started as a Sears house before several additions were built.

Wieseman, 50, an operating engineer, said he bought the house and has put a lot of work into it. It was built in the 1800s, he said.

Wieseman said his wife had been in the garage late Wednesday, flipped a switch and heard a popping noise. He later heard another popping noise, came back and found the circuit-breaker tripped. He turned everything off, then went to bed.

About 5 a.m., he and his wife heard a smoke alarm and smelled smoke.

"I got up, ran out the back, raised the garage door and was hit by black smoke," Wieseman said.

He said at first he thought the blaze could be contained to the garage, but it spread. Meanwhile, his wife dialed 911.

"By the time the fire department got here, flames were coming out the roof of the house," he said.

Despite his efforts, he lost a vehicle in the garage. The family members, including his wife's mother, Barbara Laramie, also lived there and lost important possessions, including most of their clothing.

Denise Wieseman lost her purse and glasses, and Laramie lost her dentures.

Denise Wieseman's daughter from a previous marriage, Shannon O'Neil, and O'Neil's daughter, Makalah, 5, also lived there and are without a home.

After the fire, some of the family was living in a motel in Hamel and a camper. Tom Wieseman said neighbors have come to help, and he is hoping to get another camper to occupy while they figure where to go and what to do next.

He was considering rebuilding on the same property as of Thursday.

Wieseman speculated that perhaps a "dead spark" was left after the short-circuit caused the popping noise. He said he had been working to restore the house, including the wiring, for 15 years. At one point, they had a problem with rats and mice that may have damaged the wiring, he said.

Although two dogs died in the blaze, three others managed to get out, he said. The dogs that died were named Nickie and Kelly.

At least four fire departments, from Hamel, Edwardsville, Holiday Shores and Marine, responded.

Wieseman said he had insurance on the home but not on the contents.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m., the Hamel Fire Department was called back to the scene for a report that the fire had rekindled. Firefighters responded and doused small flames that had erupted in the ruins of the house.

sanfordschmidt@yahoo.com

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Fire destroys home outside Edwardsville