After an electrical fire destroyed the home of 15-year college employee, Physical Plant Enviromental Health and Safety Assistant Kelli Withrow, on March 9, the Hillsdale College community took action to aid Withrow, her son, and brother — all residents of the home at 25 Rippon Ave. No one was seriously injured in the fire, although Withrow lost four pets — three dogs and one cat.
“We’ve lost everything,” Withrow said. “We’re all dealing with the loss of pets, and loss of everything, and living in a hotel. It’s a big adjustment. I’m thankful we all made it through it.”
Already, two trucks full of clothing and other necessities, along with monetary donations, have poured in for Withrow from all areas of campus, thanks to the organization of fellow employee Aide to the Physical Plant Director Leah Martin.
“This is a wonderful place to work. If you have a need and you voice that need, plenty of people are here to help you. Not every place is like this,” Martin said.
Withrow chimed in: “It’s like my extended family.”
Withrow stayed home from work on March 9 because she was sick. At 11 a.m., Withrow’s neighbors called 911 when they saw Withrow, her brother, and her son jumping out a second-story window. Withrow’s brother was transported to the hospital and stayed there for one day to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The fire — cause unknown — started in the kitchen, and began rapidly engulfing the entire south part of the house, according to Hillsdale Fire Department Fireman Eric Pressler. Withrow was upstairs, and due to the large flames rising through the floor, the family had to evacuate through the second-story windows.
“My son had grabbed hold of me and flipped me off the roof,” Withrow said. “It happened so fast and so quick that I don’t know that anything was going through my mind except to make sure everyone was safe.”
Pressler, who has worked at the station for almost 39 years, said this was the first major fire he has seen in a year and a half. Because Pressler and five of his men were finishing a gas odor inspection at the Salvation Army when they got the call, they were able to respond in about two minutes. After calling for back-up men and trucks, the Jonesville Fire Department, Hillsdale Rural Fire Department, and Reading Emergency Unit responded. The team was able to stop the fire by just after 1 p.m.
“Flames six to eight feet high were shooting out the south of the house when we arrived on scene,” Pressler said.
Withrow has lived in the Rippon Avenue house since 2004. Her family is currently staying at a local hotel, and is considering a rental option while they wait to find out if the house is at all salvageable.
Withrow said she is extremely grateful for the support of her fellow college employees. Minutes after an email went out to faculty and staff about the collection last week, Martin was receiving responses asking how to help.
“It has been overwhelmingly wonderful. You never know how many friends you have until something like this happens. Friends and kind people, I should say,” Withrow said.
Donations of ladies’ pants (size 14) and shirts (large), mens’ pants (36×32), shirts (XL), and shoes (12.5-13), and both ladies’ and mens’ coats may be dropped off at the Fowler Maintenance Building on West Street.
