Family home consumed by early morning blaze
From our weekly issue dated October 21, 2009
The fire resulted in the total loss of the structure and one vehicle; firefighters grappled with the burning straw bales, pulling the house apart with a track hoe. Firefighters fought the fierce blaze for several hours. (Photos by Michelle Binker, and Dale & Elaine Sandberg, IVFD Media)
An early morning fire on Monday, Oct. 19 drove an Illinois Valley family from their home and resulted in the total loss of the structure, contents and one vehicle.
An account has been established at the Cave Junction branch of Home Valley Bank to assist Keith & Michelle Binker and their sons, Paul, 11 and Ian, 7.
The fire was discovered at 3 a.m. by Michelle Binker, who awoke to the sound of venting propane tanks and a crash of breaking glass.
“I sat up in bed and saw the flames coming in through the utility room door,” Binker said. “I yelled ‘Fire’ and my husband and I rushed to get the boys out of their bedroom, which was close to the ignition point of the fire.”
The home, a timber-framed, stuccoed straw-bale structure, quickly filled with smoke and flame as the family fled to the safety of a nearby outbuilding.
Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) responded in force to fight the blaze, which was made difficult due to the durability of the concrete stucco. Smoldering straw bales within the walls were practically impossible to extinguish. At daybreak, a track hoe was brought in to demolish the structure as firefighters saturated the flaming debris.
IVFD Chief Harry Rich estimated that some 30,000 gallons of water had been poured on the fire over the course of several hours.
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One of the family’s dogs died in the fire, one cat is still missing. Keith Binker, was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital with third- and second-degree burns on one arm. Binker stated that he had been trying to move his car away from the blaze, but could not locate his keys and gave up when the heat became too intense.
IVFD resources spent much of the day on scene mopping up hot spots. Firefighters responded again on Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, when a neighbor noticed that the pile of debris was smoking again.
The family has received innumerable calls of support and offers of clothing, household items and even the use of a vehicle. Illinois Valley Senior Center Thrift Store supplied clothes, shoes and jackets, and Subway gave the family a meal Monday night, free of charge.
Keith Binker noted that he was overwhelmed with gratitude by the outpouring of generosity.
“This community is amazing,” he said. “Its motto should be ‘How can we help?’”
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