Ben Vandermyde, son of David and Patricia Vandermyde, stated his parents “awoke to the smell of smoke at 1:00 a.m.,” on Monday, June 14, 2021. They had slept soundly, so the faint chirp of the smoke detector did not wake them immediately. The 61-year-olds “grabbed their slippers, glasses, and [Dad’s] phone and escaped the house.” Thick smoke prevented them from seeing, but they felt their way to the front door–away from the fire. At that point they could hear the distinct warning beep. The door “had two locks; they couldn’t see the door and had trouble flipping the locks,” alternately unlocking and relocking them in their confusion. “Dad got the locks correct, and they” safely escaped the fire which ravaged their two-story, white, frame house.
A steel roof had recently been installed over three layers of shingles. The heat of the fire was trapped between them. Fires kept reigniting. Morrison Fire Department returned twice that day to extinguish flair ups.
Ben’s parents “were very impressed with how quickly the firemen were able to respond.” Their rural home was five miles southwest of Morrison, IL. “They were extremely grateful and impressed with the fire [department.] The firemen saved photos and identified some items they could tell would be valued: Dad’s model tractor, Mom’s Precious Moments collectables; their wedding photo album. They recovered a decent amount of wedding photos,” Ben noted.
Morrison Police Department assisted with traffic control.
Early that afternoon, the Editor noticed items lying in the grass, a short distance from the house. A storage tub was filled with wet photographs; an album lay opened to dry near framed and loose pictures; Dave’s and Pat’s slippers sat side-by-side.
The Vandermydes were at the site from 1:00 a.m. until late. They left briefly to visit Morrison Community Hospital to be examined for possible smoke inhalation. There was no breathing issue found.
However, the couple suffered a complete loss of four buildings, three vehicles, and belongings that spanned 40 years. This included the Vandermyde family home, garage, old milk house, and old chicken house used now for storage.
In 1981, Dave and Pat married and moved into the “the Hook family farm;” later they would purchase it and raise Ben and Jodi there. They also raised 100 beef cattle; bought and finished calves; had 30 sows, whose yearlings were sold.
His-and-her pickup trucks and a utility vehicle were destroyed. The latter was parked “next to the house,” stated the son. “The roll cage is visible in the photo; only the metal remains.” [Editor’s note: The photo shows a concrete milk trough resting upon a concrete slab. Directly above the trough is the remaining roll cage of that vehicle.]
Lost to the flames, Ben noted, were “almost four decades of family heirlooms,” including a furniture piece “from Belgium.” The second floor was used for storage of “significant items that were important to” Ben and Jodi as well as their parents.
The younger Vandermyde described his parents’ distress on Monday, with several people who stopped to look at and photograph the disaster his family was experiencing in real time. “It was hurtful and devastating to them,” he explained. “Please do not come by, unless you are immediate family or close friends.”
“The intent is to rebuild,” said Ben Vandermyde on Tuesday, June 15. “We’ve got a long journey and process to get there.”
Seven Fire Departments responded from the area: Albany, Erie, Milledgeville, Morrison, Prophetstown, Rock Falls, and Sterling.
Morrison Fire Department reported, “The cause of the conflagration is under investigation.”
On the afternoon of the fire, emotional and financial support for the family was initiated.
1..The American Red Cross was called to assist the couple; David and Patricia decided to stay with her sister.
2. Jodi Vandermyde began a GoFundMe account to help her parents rebuild their home. On the www.gofundme.com website, type into the search box “Help Dave and Pat Vandermyde Rebuild Their Home.”
3. The Emmanuel Reformed Church family began a gift card drive to show Christian love and support. There will be a box in the Christ Center, inside the church, where people may bring in any gift cards they wish, along with any cards of support and caring. If you bring in a gift card, put your name on it, or drop it off anonymously. Drop off is inside Emmanuel Reformed Church, 202 E. Morris Street, Morrison, IL. Any gift cards received by Wednesday, June 16, 2021, will be delivered to them on Thursday, June 17. Any gift cards received Thursday through Sunday, June 20, will be delivered to them on Monday, June 21.