BY SYDNEY HOOVER AND LUCIE KRISMAN
Lisa Polzin described the past day and a half as overwhelming.
“You know, you’ve been in this house a hundred times and it’s just destruction. It’s completely gone,” Polzin said of her cousin Devon Polzin’s home.
Local fire crews responded Wednesday afternoon to a large fire in the house at 1973 N. 1100 Road. Devon and her two sons were not home when the fire began and their three dogs were safe as well.
But Eudora Township Fire Chief Mike Baxter said nothing was salvageable from the home, which firefighters responded to just before 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Eudora Fire Chief Ken Keiter said due to the house being rural, they could not contain the fire before running out of water.
“I mean, she’s going to have to replace everything. Everything is gone,” Lisa Polzin said.
Devon had lived in the house with her children for around four years, and has long been a Eudora resident. She is originally from Lawrence.
Lisa Polzin said in just a day, the Eudora community has come together to provide for the family. She said people from across the city, some of whom the family has never met before, have put together the necessities for the family, such as clothes for the children.
“Words can’t even describe,” Lisa Polzin said. “This community is amazing, and we’re forever grateful.”
Mayor Tim Reazin said Officer Caleb Lewis has had a big hand in setting up fundraising and gathering clothes for the family in the meantime, and $5,720 has been raised to help the family as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"Community outreach has been pretty positive for it," Reazin said.
Lisa Polzin said going forward, the family is looking for a new home for themselves and their dogs. She also said they are working on replacing other things, such as the children’s toys.
Only one firefighter had reported injuries as of 9 a.m. Thursday, Keiter said.
Baxter said the Kansas fire marshal is investigating the property, but it is possible the cause of the fire will never be determined due to the destruction.
Anyone wanting to donate to the family can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/573776386542599/573776423209262/
Reach reporters Sydney Hoover and Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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