Friends rally around fire victims

"My son didn't know why it happened," Terry said. "I told him it will make us better people. (The kids) feel kind of lost. Home is your center. It's kind of weird not to come home."

Spanish Fork Fire Chief Brent Jarvis said they believe the fire initially started with ashes that were thrown away in a plastic garbage can in the Holdaways' carport. Even though the ashes were placed there Saturday morning, the ashes must have still had enough heat to ignite, Jarvis said.

The chief encourages those with fireplaces to leave ashes out in a metal container for several days while they cool, or douse them with water then let them cool before throwing them away.

He also reminded residents to keep nearby fire hydrants cleared of snow, so crews can find them quickly.

Insurance adjusters and clean-up specialists were on scene Monday, looking around and through the damaged homes. There's no estimate yet, but both families consider the homes total losses.

But no matter the cost, neither family wants to move.

"We love our neighbors, we love our ward," Terry said. "We don't want to leave."

And the neighborhood doesn't want them to go. Friends kept driving by the house Monday or walking over to ask if they could provide meals or loan a spare bedroom.

"We adore them," neighbor Char Blacker said of the families. "(This neighborhood) is a really tight-knit group. (The fire) has really affected everyone."

But despite the melted cars, charred homes and water-logged possessions, the families are optimistic.

"We're safe," Holdaway said. "Houses can be repaired, things that are lost can be fixed, but we're safe. That's all we care about."

After surviving a house fire during the winter, the Terry and Holdaway families have a bit of advice:

• Keep sturdy shoes, coats and warm clothes by each child's bed.

• Make copies of important papers to keep in a bank deposit box.

• Have a family meeting place farther away than the edge of the driveway.

• Don't rely solely on vehicle storage for an emergency — the cars could burn, too.

• Keep purses and wallets within close reach at night.

• Get fire insurance for the home.

• Have a fire escape plan that children know and have practiced.

How to help:

Donations can be made through any branch of Zions Bank to the Jared Terry Family Fund and the Holdaway Family Fund.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com