For Bob Greer, Dec. 11 began like any other Sunday, but in his Festus-area garage, unknown to him, a fire was blazing that would change so much.
“I woke up about 6 a.m. and went into the family room and turned on the TV. Then I went into the kitchen to get some coffee. I sat at the table and was working on my computer, but I noticed my cats were acting strange at the door (to the garage),” Greer said. “I glanced in the garage and there were flames almost up to the ceiling.”
Greer, 67, woke up his wife, Glenda, 67, and the two quickly grabbed some clothing and returned to the kitchen, just as the door between the garage and kitchen exploded and flames shot into the kitchen, Greer said.
The two managed to escape and called 911.
At about 6:30 a.m., the Hematite Fire Protection District received a call about the fire at the home in the 3500 block of Debbie Drive in the Festus area.
Hematite Fire Chief Robert Hipes said the fire had a good head start on fire crews.
“I live a mile, maybe two, from the house and I could see it when I left my residence, he said. “It was going good.”
When firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:41 a.m., they found the garage collapsed and half of the rest of the house filled with flames, Hipes said.
Firefighters worked for more than an hour to get the fire under control and were on the scene almost four hours, Hipes said.
“It (the house) was completely destroyed,” he said.
The Greers also lost their two cats in the fire.
The loss has hit the Greers hard.
“We built the house in 1979. It’s been devastating. On July 8, we’ll celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary,” Greer said. “There was a lot of stuff in that house, a lot of memories.”
The home is insured, and their friends, Lonnie and Joyce Young, have stepped in to offer a place for the couple to stay while they rebuild.
“We’ve known them for about 40 years. We used to take vacations together. Our kids are the same age,” Greer said. “We were devastated and they are helping us. It means quite a lot.”
Although Greer owns a fire and water restoration business, he said he is retiring from that field and called in another company to place tarps over what remains of his home.
“It hurts every time I look at it,” he said.
Despite the loss, the Greers are grateful for those who offered assistance in the wake of the fire.
“I’d really like to thank all the people who donated clothes to us, the Jefferson County Rescue Mission especially, and the (Hematite) fire department. They did the best they could. They buried my cats for me,” Greer said.
Greer said losing his house has been tough, but he and his wife are going on.
“I’m going to be OK. My son-in-law and daughter are going to rebuild the house for me,” he said. “I’m a little to old to start over, but you know, we’re alive. Life’s going to go on, and it’s going to be better.”