Thursday, September 17th, 2020
Inferno aftermath
Homeowner escapes with life, dogs
By Sydney Albert
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
William Carder's mobile home on the south side of Grand Lake burned to the ground during a Tuesday night fire. People are now rallying to help support Carder who lost his home and possessions.
MONTEZUMA - Neighbors and community members are rallying to help a Montezuma man rebuild his life after he lost his home and possessions in a fire on Tuesday night.
Firefighters from Montezuma, Coldwater and St. Marys Township fire departments responded to 5402 Lakeside Drive after a call was received at 8:58 p.m. Tuesday reporting a mobile home had caught fire. The home's owner, William Carder, 66, managed to escape the blaze without injury, along with his two dogs. Yet when the flames died down, his home and possessions were gone.
Montezuma Fire Chief Lee Braun said firefighters were on scene for approximately two and a half hours and were assisted by a squad from Coldwater Emergency Medical Services. Braun declared the home and all of its contents a total loss. He valued the home between $10,000 and $12,000, but he had no estimate for its contents.
The cause of the fire remained undetermined on Wednesday afternoon. The state fire marshal will not be called in to investigate, as no criminal intent is suspected, Braun said. The property was not insured, so insurance fraud would not be possible.
The American Red Cross was reportedly contacted to aid Carder, but Carder denied housing assistance, saying he could stay with a neighbor, Braun said.
On Wednesday, as news spread of Carder's loss, community members began asking what they could do to help. His neighbors have set up a drop-off point for supplies at 5412 Lakeside Drive in Lee's Landing, specifically asking for items such as clothes, dog food and dog supplies. Community members have already started answering the call.
Celina City Law Director George Moore said he wasn't surprised the community was coming together to help someone in need. Moore himself felt called to help and created a GoFundMe account to help raise money. Money raised there will flow into an account Moore created on Wednesday at Mercer Savings Bank, all of which will go to Carder, Moore said.
People interested in donating can visit gofundme.com/f/bill-carder-fundraiser, or they can submit a check at any Mercer Savings Bank. The check must be made payable to Moore, as he is the account holder, but with Carder's name in the memo line of the check.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Firefighters attempt to control the fire late Tuesday night.
