Fire levels Chelsea Home
By Karyn Eckert, The Star News
September 2, 11:45 a.m. — Fire destoyed a house in the Town of Chelsea early Thursday morning, but thankfully the owners weren’t home at the time of the blaze.
Shawn Roder said he had “bug-bombed” the house Wednesday, so he, Andrea Fuchs and their 14-month-old daughter, Annalee, were staying at his father’s house that night.
“The fire department told us we wouldn’t have made it out of there,” he said. “I feel lucky, but maybe if we’d been home, we’d have been able to put it out.”
Neighbors reported hearing what they described as explosions around midnight. The house was already fully engulfed when firefighters from Westboro and Medford were called to it.
Medford Area Fire Department Chief John Fales said about 20 firefighters from Medford and a dozen from Westboro were on scene. The 42-year-old ranch home was a total loss. Fales said the cause has not yet been determined.
Roder said they bought the house a year ago in June and spent another $30,000 to remodel it. He said they had insurance on it and neighbors have already given them items to begin replacing what they lost, so they’re not seeking donations at this time.
Roder said a neighbor whose father built the house is also feeling the loss. “What we lost we can replace more than him,” he said.
Roder was waiting for the insurance adjuster to arrive and said they have already decided to rebuild. “This is where we want to live,” he said.
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