Woman loses everything in home fire
Blaze started in bedroom of Montague home before quickly spreading out of control
Rose Butler was knitting in her living room when a fire broke out in her bedroom on March 24 at her home in Montague.
Although it had already damaged some parts of the bedroom, she didn't notice the smoke until her boyfriend, Tim McQuaid, detected it and tried to put out the fire by using his coat. Unfortunately, the fire kept growing and eventually spread to the mattress and the wall.
“Very quickly, we realized we weren't going to save anything. It was all over, it went fast,” she said.
They called 911 and were instructed to evacuate the house. In the rush to leave, she grabbed her purse and didn't have time to think about saving anything else, including her phone which melted in the fire. She and her boyfriend, along with their dog, waited outside as the fire continued to spread.
She lost everything, including family photos and earrings her grandmother had given her.
“There was no time to even think of saving anything. I couldn't go back in to get keys to the car. There was no time to go back.”
Three fire departments and close to 40 firefighters responded to the call, including the Murray River Volunteer Fire Department. Troy Ferguson, fire chief, said upon arrival at the scene the building was already fully engulfed in flames.
“The mini home was all on fire, it was just smoke coming out from around the eaves,” he said. “Took a bit of time to get it all cleared up. It was a total loss.”
Butler, who said she watched her 30-year-old home burn with almost nothing left, said she is grateful to all the fire crew who were able to put out the fire.
She has since been staying with relatives but has found a new spot where they can stay for the next three months.
“I'm trying not to feel anything about it because it does feel like hell, it feels like the worst thing ever,” she said.
“Lots of people are trying to help us. There is a GoFundMe, there's an online auction. Some people are coming to my work and just give me some cash. There's no insurance. So, whatever. help from the community and friends and family there is, is really appreciated.”
Butler, who owns a barber shop in Montague, said she lost all her work-related paperwork and is working to get that sorted.
“I have to keep track of those things, and those things just went up in smoke. So, it's that kind of stress that I'm really focusing on right now as opposed to the sentimental stuff because I can't take that right now.”
“I’m trying not to feel anything about it because it does feel like hell, it feels like the worst thing ever.”
Rose Butler