Help in short order: After fire, community rallies to assist couple who lost home
By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian
The fire that destroyed Janice and George Olk's home had barely started before their Travois Village neighbors were busy helping the couple put their lives back together.
“We were just getting ready for bed,” George said. “They think an electrical plug shorted out.”
“The bathroom lights started flickering, and I smelled rubber burning,” Janice added. “I came out of the bathroom, but couldn't get any further than the side door because of the smoke. Then the oxygen bottles started exploding.”
George and Janice Olk barely escaped with their lives from the fire that destroyed their Travois Village home on Aug. 9. The couple needs Missoula's help getting their lives back together. Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Both Olks need oxygen for health problems. The bottles were kept at the opposite end of the house from their bedroom. That's fortunate, because one blew out of the house and flew all the way across the street. Vibrations from the explosions could be felt at an apartment building three blocks away. The fire was hot enough to melt at least one steel cylinder into something resembling a hot water bottle.
In all, the Olks figure they had about three minutes before their home was an inferno. In that time, their belongings of the past 15 years were reduced to a nightgown and a pair of sweatpants.
Just two doors down, Crystal Jacks and her friend Tiffany Tatsey were stargazing when they heard what they thought were fireworks. They started screaming for help when they realized it was the Olks' home on fire. Neighbors rushed for fire extinguishers. Crystal's mother, Rhonda Jacks, arrived with one, but realizing it was too small to help, dropped it in favor of a garden hose.
Janice and George were stuck on their side porch, hemmed in by flames and lattice railings. A police officer rushed up and ripped off the lattice, pulling the pair to safety.
When the place finally cooled down enough to touch, Rhonda Jacks and George poked through the living room in hopes of finding his wallet. After getting covered in soot, they found it, with his Social Security card and birth certificate singed but readable.
And Jacks began - that night of Aug. 9 - to form an idea of what to do next. She printed up a flier and passed it around the neighborhood.
“All of us may need a helping hand in some point in our lives,” Jacks wrote. “This will be a great opportunity to help a neighbor in need and get to know others in the community we all share.
“For years, I have stored things I no longer use with the idea of a yard sale someday. I felt this was a good opportunity to clean out my home for a good cause. I personally ask you to join us on this very important fundraising event.”
The suggestion of a rummage sale to help the Olks has grown into a full-blown community festival. Jacks asked friends to ask their employers for help. Soon she had a list of restaurants, shops, food supply companies and other businesses willing to share something.
“Ideas just started coming in from the neighbors, and it grew from there,” Jacks said. “A lot of these donors are small businesses that are struggling to survive themselves. But they were right there. They contributed what they could.”
So now, this Saturday and Sunday feature a craft sale, yard sale, bake sale and produce/flower sale at Travois Village Park, with proceeds going to help get the Olks back on their feet. There'll be food and music, and a barbecue Saturday evening for the volunteers.
The local Red Cross and the First Church of the Nazarene have helped with hotel costs while the Olks try to find a new home. They still have their lot in Travois Village, but the ground rent takes up most of their budget. They hope their insurance will cover the cost of a new home they can bring to the site.
“It's so hard,” Janice Olks said while looking at the charred remains of her home. “I don't know how some of this is going to fall together.”
Fortunately, it looks like her friends have some good ideas.
Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com.
