Resident says structure ‘climbed like a powder keg’ | News, Sports, Jobs
OBSERVER Photo by Dan Kohler Local firefighters monitor the remains of 111 Center Street while others fight the blaze.
Early Tuesday morning, Tristen Larson, her son Zephyr, her boyfriend Dennis Thomas and their roommate Austin Thompson woke up and immediately sensed the danger.
What they initially believed to be the smoke from their stove in their upstairs apartment on Center Street in Fredonia turned out to be a much more imminent threat.
“We had an alarm set to 6 and we woke up five minutes before that. “ Larson said. “It was way smokier in the house than it should have been for anything. At first we thought it was coming from the stove, so we checked there and it wasn’t the stove and realized that it wasn’t from our apartment at all.
Realizing how bad the smoke was, the four of them and their dog, Axel, quickly descended the stairs, freeing the house in the safest way possible. And as they all managed to get out of their house, everything in the house quickly caught fire.
“We got out and Austin walked around the building and saw flames coming out of the house” Larson said. “We immediately called 911 and got in the car and backed up the car.”
Pictured is Tristen Larson’s son Zephyr.
Now Zephyr, Thompson and Larson and Thomas, the owners of Critical Fredonia game, find themselves without clothes, documents, other necessities, and most importantly, a place to stay.
“We have to find a place to stay and it takes our dog,” Larson said. “We can manage from there. All we have to do is find accommodation.
Only one day has passed since their lives were turned upside down, the community has already mobilized to help the four of them. Larson’s mother shared a donation link on Facebook shortly after the 6 a.m. fire, and the same day the donation link already stands at over $ 1,800. Larson said that despite everything, she’s glad the four of them got out.
“If we were out five minutes later, we wouldn’t be alive” Larson said. “It went up like a powder keg. The ground began to crumble beneath us. There was no going back in this building.
Those wishing to donate can find their Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/donate/617854089495578/10217886981159828/. Those looking to donate food, clothing or other goods can drop them off at Critical Gaming at 4 W. Main St. in Fredonia. Larson wears medium to large womens clothing and size 14 pants, while Thompson and Thomas both wear 2XL and Zephyr is a size 4 or 5.