Source Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind.
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Dec. 13--Shawn Krueger received the phone call Monday afternoon that his mobile home was on fire while he helped a friend Julie Todd with installing and painting a bookshelf he'd built for Todd's business.
Todd's now collecting donations for her friend and his two sons, 13-year-old Shawn and 12-year-old Adam, who lost everything in Monday's fire.
The family's dog, a miniature pinscher named Stoney, died in the blaze..
Perry Clear Creek firefighters were called to the mobile home fire at 400 W. Terrace Drive at 2:52 p.m. Monday. Fire officials say the fire may have started at an electrical outlet.
Tree trimmers working in the area saw the smoke and called firefighters, according to assistant chief Joe McWhorter Jr. The tree trimmers then checked to see if anyone was home.
No one was -- Krueger was helping Todd with replacing a bookshelf because of a vandalism at the store earlier this month. The boys were at school.
The fire started in the living room of the standard-sized mobile home, possibly at an electrical outlet. "It wasn't an overloaded circuit, I think it was just a malfunctioning circuit," McWhorter said.
Fire officials have deemed the mobile home uninhabitable.
"It's just devastating," Todd said. "He's a great dad ... He works really hard, volunteers." She said the family in need of just about everything, from clothing to housewares, and furniture, especially beds for the children and dressers.
The Monroe County chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family which is staying at a hotel. They have plans to move into a mobile home by the end of the week, Todd said, thanks to a donation of funds from Beyers Roofing.
Perry Clear Creek and Bloomington firefighters were at the scene of the mobile home fire for about 90 minutes. No injuries were reported.
One Stop Consignments, Todd's store at 715 N. Rogers St., is accepting donations. A fund has also been established at Regions Bank under the name One Stop Consignments for benefit of Shawn Krueger.
