Generator catches fire, burns down home

REARDAN–A fire destroyed a home on Wood road 17 miles northeast of town during the windstorm that battered the region on Saturday, Nov. 5. After a power outage, a generator caught fire and quickly spread to a shed and then to the house.

Chris Freebourn was home with his wife Lauren and their three children when their power shut off Friday night. Just after midnight, he set up a generator on the back porch to power a space heater and a cell phone charger.

When the heater turned off after 20 minutes, he went outside to check on the generator. It, a nearby shed and the house's siding were on fire.

Chris grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the siding, but "it didn't help."

He grabbed the generator to pull it off the porch.

"When he grabbed it, the flames flared up in his face," Lauren said.

She called the fire department, who arrived approximately 30 minutes later. Firefighters put 15,000 gallons of water on the structure but could not save it.

First responders rushed Chris to the hospital, where medical personnel treated him for blisters on his hands and burns on his face.

The Freebourn's three cats ran away during the fire and have yet to return home.

"The fire was devastating," Lauren said. "We lost everything, including our wedding album and all tangible memories of my deceased sister. But I am overjoyed that our family is safe. Everything important in our lives has come into focus."

For now, the Freebourns are living in an empty rental house.

"I haven't had time to deal with my emotions," Lauren said. "One thing I know for sure is that I cannot live on this property anymore. We will have to find a home somewhere else."

Numerica Credit Union has set up an account to help the Freebourns get back on their feet. Any of their branches will accept donations made on their behalf.