LAHARPE — The home of Jerry and Joyce Adair was gutted by a fire Friday evening, which resulted in the hospitalization of a volunteer firefighter for smoke inhalation.
The Adairs were not home when the fire started. Jerry Adair told the Register he had been away fishing, while Joyce was returning to town from Colorado.
The house, which had several rooms filled with sacks of clothing, continued to smolder through the weekend as firefighters returned to the scene on multiple occasions to douse remaining hot spots.
LaHarpe fire chief Marc Waggoner Sr. said they arrived to see flames emanating from the roof area.
“It had been burning a while,” he said.
Jerry Adair said the roof’s makeup also made it tough on firefighters, because the century-old home had several layers of shingles, covered with a metal layer.
The firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a pair of unoccupied houses on either side, but the structure was a total loss.
Volunteer firefighter Marc Waggoner Jr. was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and kept overnight for observation.
“He’s much better, but he’s still dealing with the after-effects,” his father said.
Firefighters also had to deal with a fallen power line a half block south of the house. Marc Waggoner Sr. said a hose clipped the wood utility pole, which had “rotting wood.”
An electric crew from Iola arrived on the scene to erect a new pole. They finished that work in the pre-dawn hours Saturday.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Jerry Adair said he had “some” insurance on the house, where he and his wife had lived for the past 10 years, and was filled with clothing and other objects.
“We’re kind of hoarders,” he said.
Joyce Adair works with Iola Senior Citizens Inc., a local thrift store that sells used clothing and household goods.
One of her jobs is to clean donated bags of items to ensure they can still be used.
The Adairs own other properties, including a house across the street in the 300 block of Harrison Street, and will stay there for the time being, Jerry Adair told the Register.
