Garage destroyed
Fire claims life of Sunman man
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Ron Allen, 69, of Sunman, lost his life after he was severely burned in a fire that started in his garage last Friday, April 22. He was transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital by Rescue 20, and then taken to University of Cincinnati Hospital, where he died.

"It was the worst thing I've ever seen," were the emotional words of neighbor Denise Rynn, as she described the scene.

"First, I called my neighbor (Phyllis Ellison), to see if the smoke was coming from their chimney flue," Rynn began as she retraced her steps. "I found out the smoke was coming from Ron's place (which was two doors down) and ran up the road." She and another neighbor both called 911.

Rynn was shocked at what she saw next as Allen was literally on fire. "His body was on fire, his clothes were melting off," she cried. "As I was hosing him off, he kept worrying about the barn," Rynn recalled. She kept spraying water on him. She said she could feel the heat coming from his body.

Rynn then steered Allen away from the burning building and was nearly carrying him before he collapsed on the ground. With the help of other neighbors, she covered Allen's body with towels and blankets soaked in water. She ran back to her house, grabbed her own oxygen machine and hooked it up to help Allen breath better.

"She (Rynn) did everything right," noted Sunman Rural Fire Department Assistant Chief Bill Craig. "If I had to be in a fire I would definitely want this lady living next to me," he added. Craig had high praise for the effort Rynn made to save her neighbor's life.

Craig noted that the fire department was called out about 10:00 a.m. and when they arrived on the scene, the building was fully engulfed in flames. It took close to 10,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire with manpower from twelve firemen.

The fire was a difficult one due to a couple of factors, according to Craig. He noted that the wood framed building had been added onto several times making it harder to extinguish the fire. Another factor against firefighters was there were all types of accelerants inside the building.

According to Craig, Allen told neighbors he was lighting a fire in the wood stove in the garage when the fire broke out. After reviewing evidence found at the scene, Jim Skaggs, St. Fire Marshal, ISP Technician Rob Ewing, and Sunman Rural Fire Department's investigators Dan Eckstein and Jim Darringer, were all in agreement that the fire started just the way Allen described.

The damage estimate for the structure, which was a garage separate from the house was $30,000 and another $80,000 for contents, according to Craig.

Several neighbors came to the aid of Allen and responded with drinks for the firemen as well. From the initial call at 10:00 a.m., firemen weren't completely finished for the day until about 7:00 p.m. that evening.

"The firefighters at the scene did a tremendous job of knocking the fire down," noted Craig. He further stated there were six more firemen back at the station on standby in case the department received another call. Members of the ladies auxiliary were welcomed as they brought sandwiches and drinks to exhausted firemen.

Neighbors Phyllis Ellison and Ruth Walterman noted that Allen was a "great neighbor - a really good guy." Ellison was very instrumental in helping Allen, according to his daughter.

Ron Mounts, a neighbor who lived just across the railroad tracks from Allen also helped. His wife, Paula, noted that her husband screamed at her, "Ron's on fire," and ran out the door.

It was a traumatic morning as the word spread about the tragic fire. The day saw a number of people riding by, stopping and telling firemen what a good person Allen was.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m. at Weigel's Funeral Home, Batesville, with visitation from 3:00 p.m. until time of the service.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Firefighters from the Sunman Rural Fire Department worked to extinguish the fire in the garage of Ron Allen on Spades Road near Sunman. Allen lost his life due to injuries sustained from the fire.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Assistant Fire Chief Bill Craig, talks with a neighbor, Denise Rynn, who helped Allen at the time of the fire on Friday morning, April 22.