House fire destroys Colby family home on Friday

The Central Fire and EMS District battled a blaze at the home of Robert and Veronica Graebel located on Main Street in Colby on Friday, April 26, resulting in the total loss of the home and garage.

No injuries were sustained during the fire, however the family lost multiple pets and their home in the incident. According to the Central Fire and EMS District, crews were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. for a garage fire that was found to be fully involved with heavy smoke and flames. The fire spread to the house and caused the house to become fully involved as well.

The department said weather conditions caused the fire to be tough to put out as they spent several hours on-scene subduing the flames.

The fire was contained to the Graebel’s structures but the home was considered a total loss and the family was displaced.

Robert Graebel said the family is cur-

See COLBY FIRE/ Page 6

“A FEW SERVING MANY” - Crews from the Central Fire and EMS District, OWC Fire District and Spencer Fire Department were on-scene for over four hours during a blaze that displaced a Colby family.

STAFF PHOTOS/KRIS O’LEARY Colby fire

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rently living with a family member who happens to be a neighbor of theirs.

Additional resources were provided by the Spencer Fire Department, Owen-Withee- Curtiss Fire Department, Colby-Abbotsford Police Department and the Red Cross. Employees at Kwik Trip also provided food and coffee for the firefighters on-scene.

Shortly after the blaze, community members organized a fundraising effort for the family which consists of six children in total but four children that lived in the home. Donations of clothing and other items have been collected at Baumgartner’s Lumber and Materials at 508 West Spence Street in Colby. Donations may be dropped off at the business on Monday Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The biggest needs for the family right now are gift cards to Abby County Market, Wal-Mart, Kwik Trip or monetary donations. A GoFundMe is reportedly in the process of being created for the family.

Veronica Graebel shared a thank you note on social media in the days following the fire.

“I just want to thank everyone,” Graebel said. “We moved to this community about three years ago. We barely know anyone. Everyone is being so helpful and caring and kind. Just know we appreciate you all.”

In the post, Graebel said they are still looking for two of their cats that may have made it out of the fire but are missing. The cats are all black and black and white. Contact the CAPD at 715-223-2313 if the cats are found.

A TOTAL LOSS - The house, garage as well as a vehicle in the driveway were torched as a result of the Main Street fire. The family is living with a neighbor while they figure out what is next.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/CENTRAL FIRE AND EMS DISTRICT