Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Michael and Julie Bly took their children Christmas shopping after he got off work Monday night, Dec. 19.
They bought some Dora the Explorer toys for daughter Hannah, 3 1/2, and a train set, clothes and coloring books for Joseph, 13 months. They also got some clothes and a Spiderman bed set for Bly’s 6-year-old son Justin, who lives with another family member.
Christmas shopping complete, they returned to their home in Mountain Shadows Mobile Home Park, where Bly’s wife Julie and Hannah wrapped the presents and Joseph went to bed.
The next day it all went up in smoke.
Bly, 34, was in Eugene at his ironworker job at the new Sacred Heart Hospital construction site. He said Julie, 25, woke up and “plugged in the (Christmas tree) lights like normal.” Her sister’s four children arrived to be baby-sat. Shortly after 9:30 a.m., Julie Bly was laying Joseph down for a nap in a bedroom when Hannah ran in and announced that there was fire in the living room where the children were watching television.
“Julie told her, ‘I’m laying Bubba down. Go back and watch TV,'” Michael Bly said.
Moments later Julie went into the next room and saw flames traveling up the walls.
She got the children outside and summoned resident manager Duane Davis, who lives just down the street. Davis said he ran over in his stocking feet and turned on a hose to fight the fire.
Fire Chief Mike Beaver said firefighters responded at 9:44 a.m.
A Christmas tree caught fire in the double-wide manufactured home, Beaver said. The interior sustained smoke and heat damage, estimated at approximately $30,000 for the contents.
“The manager of the trailer park fought the fire with a garden hose until we arrived,” Beaver said. “He really kept it contained to the tree and a small area of the kitchen.”
The lights were the only ignition source, the chief said. Most people have had their trees long enough by now that the trees are no longer absorbing water.
Beaver suggests keeping good lights on trees, keeping candles away from Christmas trees and not smoking near them.
“They’re a tinderbox this close to Christmas,” Beaver said. “These folks were fortunate they got out with no injuries.”
The Volunteer Firefighters Association has donated cash from its burnout fund, blankets and toys to the family, Beaver said. The Red Cross also has been contacted to help the family.
Davis said Mountain Shadows residents have donated a queen-sized bed and kitchen utensils. He said some items may be able to be salvaged.
On Wednesday the Blys were wearing new coats provided by the Red Cross. They were staying at Motel Inn while they tried to arrange other lodging. Davis said he has a two-bedroom vacant trailer that he will make available to the family.
A logger by trade, Bly said he was run over by a crummie at a logging job in the summer of 2004 and was in a wheelchair for five months with a broken leg, pelvis and knees. He said he recently got back to work and was doing better as a union ironworker.
“This kind of set us back a bit,” he said.
Those interested in helping the family can call Skip and Sharon Malone at 367-8019.