TOWN OF MONTICELLO - A rural Monticello home is considered a total loss and the residents homeless after a fire spread to the house from an outdoor chicken coop early Thursday, Dec. 6.
Area fire departments responded at 7:04 a.m. to the home of Roc Ordman and Eliza Freeman, N6864 County N, located just to the north of County C, according to Monticello Fire Chief Kevin Komprood.
The couple suffered minor injuries while trying to go back into the house to recover belongings, Komprood said, but otherwise no one was hurt.
The fire originated from a faulty heat lamp in the chicken coop on the property. Komprood estimates total losses at $200,000. An attached garage and two vehicles were salvaged.
Firefighters and medics from six area municipalities worked to put out flames for more than five hours, until about 12:30 p.m.
The Monticello Public Library is collecting donations for Ordman and Freeman, who works there part-time as an aide.
Library Director Sharon Briggs said the library will be donating money from its annual tree decoration fundraiser to the couple. Ornaments are $5, $10 and $15, and children's snowflakes are $1. Usually library staff uses the money from this fundraiser to buy something extra for the library, but this year they felt the need was greater for the displaced couple.
Non-monetary donations, like toiletries, food and clothing, are also welcome.
"They have nothing left from that fire but the clothes they were wearing," Briggs said.
For more information on ways to help, call the library at (608) 938-4011.
Area fire departments responded at 7:04 a.m. to the home of Roc Ordman and Eliza Freeman, N6864 County N, located just to the north of County C, according to Monticello Fire Chief Kevin Komprood.
The couple suffered minor injuries while trying to go back into the house to recover belongings, Komprood said, but otherwise no one was hurt.
The fire originated from a faulty heat lamp in the chicken coop on the property. Komprood estimates total losses at $200,000. An attached garage and two vehicles were salvaged.
Firefighters and medics from six area municipalities worked to put out flames for more than five hours, until about 12:30 p.m.
The Monticello Public Library is collecting donations for Ordman and Freeman, who works there part-time as an aide.
Library Director Sharon Briggs said the library will be donating money from its annual tree decoration fundraiser to the couple. Ornaments are $5, $10 and $15, and children's snowflakes are $1. Usually library staff uses the money from this fundraiser to buy something extra for the library, but this year they felt the need was greater for the displaced couple.
Non-monetary donations, like toiletries, food and clothing, are also welcome.
"They have nothing left from that fire but the clothes they were wearing," Briggs said.
For more information on ways to help, call the library at (608) 938-4011.