Laurel man plans to rebuild home lost in fire

Feb. 08--Les Sayler's first reaction after seeing his home on fire was a mixture of shock and relief -- relief that his kids were safe with him in the car and no one else was in the house. No one was hurt.

While grocery shopping and picking up his kids Sunday afternoon, a neighbor had messaged Sayler to let him know his house was on fire. At first he thought his neighbor must have been mistaken. He had been smoking salmon in a smoker on the back deck. The neighbor was probably just seeing that smoke, not an actual fire, he suspected.

But Sayler followed a Laurel Volunteer Fire Department pump truck all the way to his house.

"By the time I got home, the fire department was there, most of the upper story was pretty well engulfed in flames, and windows were blown out," he said.

The firefighters responded to the call from Sayler's neighbor and arrived around 12:45 p.m. Sunday.

"It was pretty shocking and surreal," he said. "This is my first home I've ever bought."

He's owned the home for a little more than two years.

He knew the house was unoccupied, aside from his two cats, which he later learned had been let out by one of his neighbors. Both his cats, Patches and Sonny, made it out of the house OK, he said, although Sonny was still missing outside. He found the cat well Wednesday morning, he said.

Above all, Sayler is grateful no one was injured and for the support from his neighbors.

"The whole community has really been outstanding, contacting me to make sure I don't need anything, and that all my bases are covered," he said.

Before the fire was even extinguished some neighbors had already provided him with clothes and a coat, he said.

He said about 50 percent of the home wan't damaged by the fire, although the smoke and water damage is considerable.

The house was boarded up Sunday evening, he said, to ensure no one goes inside and gets hurt. He's already working with a restoration company, and plans to begin rebuilding his home.

The fire claimed the majority of the east side of the house, including the living room, kitchen and a collapsed roof.

Despite losing half his house and most of his possessions, Sayler is trying to stay positive.

"The only way I'm going to make it through is to keep my head up and keep a good attitude," he said. "I've got a ton of support." All the material things, he added, can be replaced.

He's staying at his ex-wife's house, watching their kids, but is setting up a temporary housing option through his insurance company.

Staying optimistic, Sayler noted that Sunday wasn't a total loss for him.

"It just so happens that I'm a Patriots fan," he said. He was still able to catch some of the Super Bowl, and said the Patriots' win cheered him up a little bit.

"I did get some guff from the firemen though," he said. "I had some Patriots paraphernalia hanging around the house, nobody was too upset that they had to spray that down," he said with a laugh.

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