Displaced residents react to fire

Jan. 28--Residents who lost their home in last week's blaze on West Seventh Street Extension are still picking up the pieces.

David Reid explained this week he and his girlfriend, Lynnette Clodfelter, were two of the four people displaced in the house fire. Initial reports indicated three people were displaced, but Reid clarified this week Clodfelter's son and daughter-in-law, Wesley and Debbie Blanchard, were living with them.

Firefighters with the Lexington Fire Department were dispatched to the house fire about 4:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Lexington Fire Commander Jeff Worley said firefighters arrived to find the entire front of the home involved in flames.

"I'm living with my sister," Reid said. "We lost everything we owned. Dude, I had about $60,000 worth of (items) in that house."

Lexington Fire Marshal J.D. Everhart said the blaze was being deemed accidental. Fire investigators believe the fire started with a candle in the living room near the front door.

However, they are uncertain what caught on fire from the candle. The occupants believe either a blanket or pictures that were on the wall fell on the candle, causing the fire.

No one was injured in the blaze. However, two dogs and two birds died in the fire while two other dogs escaped, Reid said.

Reid did not have renter's insurance on the home, which is considered a total loss. He said he lost deer heads from Illinois.

"I've got to rebuild," Reid said. "I've got to start over."

Deborah Blanchard said she and her husband had been staying with her mother-in-law and boyfriend for nearly four months. Due to the house fire, they are now staying with friends.

Blanchard said she and her husband were in the house when the fire broke out. She said they escaped out of the front door.

"I lost my dog," Blanchard said Thursday. "I lost my clothing, but it can be replaced. My family couldn't."

According to a news release from the LFD, one of the occupants advised firefighters there were two 30-pound propane cylinders in proximity of the fire. One of the tanks just outside of the residence under a window ruptured while another tank was inside the residence and was venting through the safety valve.

"Crews were able to control the heat encroaching on that tank and prevent it from rupturing," the news release stated.

Blanchard said the family was heating the home with a burner attached to a propane tank because their heat was not working. She said there had been no heat for three days.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick

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