Two Cordell residents have lost their home following a house fire that took place over the weekend.
On Sunday, September 19, Cherie Olson and Kenneth Keeton woke up coughing from smoke generated by the fire that started around 10:30 that morning.
“My mother and godfather woke up coughing from the smoke. [They] had the neighbor call 911 and rushed outside,” said Amber Skye Skeens-Trent, the daughter of Olson.
According to Skeens-Trent, everyone in the home, which includes Olson, Keeton, and their dog, made it outside in time.
“They all made it outside and alive and watched the firefighters spend over [three] hours trying to put it out,” she said. “My god father went back in for their dog and got him out.”
Cordell Fire Department worked to put out the fire, and the couple was told the cause was an electrical fire that started somewhere in the bedroom.
Skeen-Trent said that the home was built around 1925 and that firefighters had trouble getting past the fire in the roof.
Following the fire, all members of the household have had no injuries and Skeens-Trent said everyone “has checked out fine.”
Members of the community worked to provide clothes for Olson and Keeton immediately following the fire.
“[Firefighters] were all so amazing, and this community has already been SO amazing in their efforts to help,” Skeens-Trent said. “We are blessed.”
“At this point, just any money put in that account to help pay for clean up fees would be tremendously helpful,” Skeens-Trent said. “The community has been amazing with everything else.”
Both Olson and Keeton said they are thankful for the help that all members of the community have given them.
“Thank you so very much to the Cordell community for everything that you didn’t have to do,” both Olson and Keeton said. “You are so appreciated!”
