Fire destroys Plains home

Fire destroyed a home along Highway 28 last week, despite efforts by firefighters from two departments.

Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District Chief James Russell, the second firefighter on scene, said that an investigation continues as to the cause of the November 22 blaze. The fire was reported at 12:58 p.m. Minutes later, husband and wife firefighters Zach and Cori Vanderwall arrived at the scene. In total, nine of the district's firefighters and four firefighters from the Town of Plains Fire Department, along with five fire engines, arrived to fight the fire.

The house, located about a half of a mile from Highway 200, is the home of Tom and Darlene McClelland, and was a total loss, said Russell. "When we got there, the entire attic was totally engulfed," said Russell, who added that flames were coming out the front door and the first floor was 80% engulfed. Firefighters remained on scene for almost six hours to make sure it was extinguished and to ensure that it would not spread. "I went back and checked on the fire scene that night and the next morning. Thankfully the hard work on suppression and overhaul paid off. We did not have to chase any lingering pockets of fire or heat," said Russell.

This was only the second structure fire for the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District this year. Russell said they put out a fire on Back Forty Ranch Drive in May, but it, too, was a total loss. The cause of that fire was undetermined, said Russell. "As firefighters, it makes a difference when it's people you know," he said.

A GoFundMe account was set up by Plains resident Shelley Bertrand with a goal of $15,000 and as of Sunday, $3,543 had been raised.