Corvallis family struggles following fire
by PERRY BACKUS - Ravalli Republic
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Ron Lamb looks over the inside of the Corvallis house he and his wife lost to a fire two weeks ago.
PERRY BACKUS - Ravalli Republic
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CORVALLIS - Two weeks ago Saturday, Paula Lamb decided to take a nap.
It was almost the last nap she ever took.
Lamb threw a log in the stove and then settled on the mattress on the floor. She and her husband, Ron, had just moved into the rental three days earlier and hadn’t quite finished getting everything put away.
The next thing she remembers is her husband pulling her toward the door and the heavy black smoke that filled the room.
A fire had started in the chimney and apparently escaped into the rafters through cracks in the masonry.
Her husband was away from the house at the time. Something told him he needed to get home in a hurry.
“I had this feeling that I needed to be back there,” Ron said later. “I asked her sister to take me back home.”
By the time Ron arrived, local firefighters were already at the scene. They told him they hadn’t found anyone in the house and no one had answered their calls.
“Everyone is saying no one is in the house,” Ron said. “I told them yes there was. The house was pretty much full of smoke when I got in there. I had to crawl around on my knees and then feel around to find her.
“I jerked her out the door and got her across the street,” he said.
Paula doesn’t remember a thing.
“I just know that he’s my hero,” she said. “He came and got me.”
The couple lost everything in the fire. And what wasn’t ruined, someone stole.
“I want to thank the neighbors for helping themselves to our stuff,” Paula said. “Someone stole my dad’s carving set. It wasn’t much, but it was ours. We had a lot of stuff stolen. Between the water and smoke and foam, it ruined everything else we had.”
Just as some took advantage of the couple’s situation, others have come to their aid.
On the day of the fire, the Corvallis Volunteer Fire Department gave the couple a pair of wool blankets and Pastor Pat Goldson of Whole Heart Ministries opened up his home to the couple and their family. The local chapter of the American Red Cross helped with food and clothing. The Ravalli County Ministerial Association has provided gas vouchers. Others in the community have offered more help and support.
“Everything we have right now is borrowed other than my tennis shoes,” Paula said. “Ron is wearing borrowed clothes. It’s been pretty tough, but Jesus is taking care of us.”
Heather Green and Hamilton’s Roxy Theater is planning a benefit concert for the couple in the near future. Goldson said people should watch the theater’s signboard for more information.
“Winter is a hard time for a lot of people, even if they’re not having to go through something as difficult as this,” Goldson said.
If people want to help the Lamb family, they can call Goldson at 381-5954.
“Whole Heart helps out families in crisis,” Paula said. “They are amazing.”
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Editor Perry Backus can be reached at 363-3300 or editor@ravallirepublic.com.
Reader's Comments >>
Wizard OfHamilton wrote on Dec 26, 2008 5:52 PM:
How about some kind of music jam-fest,
and have the event held either at the Roxy Theater here in Hamilton or the Bedford Building.
We'll need some folks here to help
organize some kind of event, and have the local talents come in and strut their stuff...
Even have some kind of bake sale or something, anything to help the cause,
while musicians provide the entertainment to add plenty
of rhythm and soul.
My music endeavor's in a virtual slowdown and I would like to do something to keep me musically occupied,
and help out those poor souls who lost their home and their belongings.
I've already done my holiday gig at Spice Of Life Cafe.
If there's anyone interested in having me perform some music gigs for this charitable cause, you can reach me
at wizardofhamilton@hotmail.com.
Thank you. "
Johnnie B. wrote on Dec 26, 2008 1:51 PM:
And I concur with Billy (the Wizard). And as he has volunteered his musical talents for a benefit show, I would like to throw my hat into the ring as well. My band and I would be MORE than willing to donate our services for a benefit concert for the Lamb family. We play a mix of southern rock, blues, and a little americana/country. I also personally know several other area bands/musicians (of numerous different and diverse genres) that would be very willing to participate as well. We would all love to help out in any way we can.
It's tragic times like these that can prove how great our communities are when we come together to help those in need. "
Billy Angus a.k.a. the Wizard Of Hamilton wrote on Dec 23, 2008 6:36 PM:
May the Ghost of Christmas-Yet-To-Come
give those greedy thieves the dickens.
Meanwhile, if there's anything I could do musically to help,
please let me know.
I'm open to doing concerts
for charitable causes.
I'm at Spice Of Life Cafe, doing some holiday music from Noon-1:30PM, on Christmas Eve, so feel free to come in and inquire in person.
I'm generally a keyboardist/pianist, specializing in rock-n-roll oldies, folk-rock, along with some reggae, jazz, and blues. "
carole wrote on Dec 19, 2008 1:47 PM:
TOM wrote on Dec 18, 2008 8:33 PM:
Dawn wrote on Dec 17, 2008 11:04 PM: