BASCOM, Ohio — Community members gathered Thursday night at a Hopewell-Loudon High School and mourned five of their own killed in an early-morning house fire, including a volunteer fire department cadet.
Families listened to a presentation from western Ohio’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team, lowered their heads together in prayer, and offered each other advice and support. Among the hardest hit by Thursday’s tragedy were members of the Bascom Fire Department, who learned Austin Rainey, a 19-year-old volunteer cadet, was among those killed.
“It’s been a long, tiring day,” Rick Dell, a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician who served with Mr. Rainey, said during the gathering. “Pretty much we got through this together, and with our brothers in the fire department.”
Mr. Dell, 40, a Hopewell Township resident, said Mr. Rainey had graduated from Hopewell-Loudon High School last spring.
“He was an uplifting person,” he said. “Very outgoing, always a smile on his face, and always willing to help others.”
The other four victims in the fire are believed to be Mr. Rainey’s mother, father, younger brother, and younger sister. Investigators said two dogs also died in the blaze. Officials on scene said the Lucas County Coroner's Office would later identify the victims.
The large fire burned through 10331 W. State Rt. 18 in Loudon Township, east of Fostoria and about 40 miles southeast of Toledo. A young girl, believed to have died in the fire, called 911 from her father's cellphone at 3:46 a.m., authorities said.
David Alvarado, superintendent of the Hopewell-Loudon School district, confirmed the two youths who were killed, attended schools in the district. Counselors were brought in to help fellow students deal with their grief.
“The Hopewell-Loudon community has suffered a tragic loss. At this time we are offering support to our students, staff, and community. We have available the CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) team of Western Ohio, in conjunction with our school counselors, local clergy, and resources provided by area districts. Parents and community members may access our school website for additional resources and updates, as they are made available. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and the community,” a statement on the school’s website said in part.
About 70 people attended the event held at the school Thursday evening, where they heard from the CISM team, and the Rev. Dean Duran, the pastor of Bascom United Methodist Church. Some of the attendees then left to a school gym to talk to grief counselors, while others stopped to pet Molly, a 19-month-old therapy dog, a female Cavachon brought in by the CISM team.
Highlights of the CISM presentation — mostly by Rick Skilliter, the CISM coordinator — included tips on how parents can help their children cope with the tragedy, such as “keeping the limit on the social media and TV,” surrounding yourself “with positive people that you trust and can have conversations with,” realizing that “not all questions have answers,” and not being afraid to cry in front of your children.
“There is no blueprint on how to react to five members of community dying...,” he said. “You will all write that book in the days and weeks to come.”
Mary Moore, a 1966 graduate of Hopewell-Loudon High School, said she came to support her grandchildren, who are students at the school.
“I think it will help the community,” said Ms. Moore, who lives in Hancock County’s Washington Township. “Bascom is a strong community, where everybody knows everybody, so hopefully this [event] will make the children stronger by knowing that their parents are looking out for them, and knowing that God is in their lives.”
State Fire Marshal investigators are reviewing how and where the blaze started. A county spokesman said there are no signs of criminal activity.
Family members declined interview requests outside the residence Thursday afternoon.
Firefighters initially found three bodies. They later discovered two more during a further search of the unstable structure, said Kelly Stincer, a spokesman for the State Fire Marshal.
“When the folks were taking the debris off, they had discovered the other two bodies,” Ms. Stincer said.
Firefighters from Bascom, Fostoria, Old Fort, New Riegel, Kansas, and Attica-Venice-Reed responded.
Neighbor John Lang, 54, exited his house early Thursday upon hearing sirens.
“The whole front porch and whole front end was engulfed in flames,” Mr. Lang said.
He added that flames were visible from the home's rear about 10 minutes later. Mr. Lang said though he did not know them, he often saw family members spending time outside.
Thursday's deaths followed a series of fatal fires during the past several years in the county.
In November 2012, a family of five died at 13843 Reed Township Road 124 near Republic. A fire the following September struck Highland Trailer Park, 686 S. Sandusky St. in Tiffin, killing a man and five children.
Joseph D. Hamilton; his wife, Holly R. Hamilton; her daughter, Olivia Bondy, 11; and the couple’s two sons, Jaxon Hamilton, 8, and Linkin Hamilton, 6, died in the Republic fire.
Anna Angel, 30; Timothy Fresch, 25; Domonic Fresch, 1; Trinitie Huey, 4; Sunshine Huey, 3; Stormie Huey, 5, and Tiara Angel, 6, died in the Tiffin blaze.
Nancy Williams, the park manager, at the time of the Tiffin fire said: “We’ve never experienced anything like this,” she said. “It’s pretty devastating to a small town like Tiffin, and especially to a small community like we have here.”
Anyone with information regarding the most recent fire is asked to call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 800-589-2728.
Staff writer Allison Reamer contributed.
Contact Mike Sigov at sigov@theblade.com, 419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.
First Published October 26, 2017, 11:33 a.m.
