Idaho Mountain Express: ?Heroic efforts? save Carey couple

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

?Heroic efforts? save Carey couple

Fire consumes house but residents survive

By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

Cats are reputed to have nine lives, and, luckily, their owners had a couple to spare as fire razed a Carey home, possibly sparked by a heating lamp left on the back porch to keep the family's felines warm.

Incident commander Dennis Patterson, chief of the Carey Fire Protection District, said the fire ignited "very quickly," but a fortunate chain of events led to a quick response by rescuers. Although the house could not be saved, its inhabitants, 67-year-old John Conrad, his wife, Edith, also in her 60s, and an infant granddaughter, all made it to safety thanks to some "heroic efforts" by neighbors, firefighters and businesses in the area.

"The people from Northwest Door and Mill were instrumental in contacting 911 and going over and helping with the rescue," Patterson said.

Tom "Zippy" Mattias, an employee with Northwest Door in Carey, said he was pulling in to work when he saw thick, black smoke pouring from the Conrads' house.

"I pulled in back, saw smoke, and sure enough, right then there was ignition of a big, orange flash. I ran into the shop shouting that there was a house fire and to call 911," Mattias said.

Firefighters from Carey and Wood River responded at 7:33 a.m. Monday to a call for a "fully involved fire," at the two-story home on Queens Crown Road located near the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 26 in Carey.

"The flames were as high as the trees, which are 25-feet tall," Patterson said, "and it happened really fast. Kyle Green, a deputy in Hailey, was driving to work and nothing was showing. By the time he got to Picabo the call came out for a fully involved fire."

By then, Mattias and his co-workers, 21-year-old Max Adamson and 46-year-old Dennis Dawson, were helping Edith Conrad and her granddaughter to safety.

"We got grandma and the baby out the door and when she wanted to go back in for her dog and car keys and purse we didn't let her," Mattias said.

"The whole house was engulfed at that point."

Edith informed the men that John was still in the home, and Adamson, who grew up in the area and is familiar with the home, shouted for Conrad to go to the balcony.

"Max was the man," Mattias said. "He yelled and yelled for Conrad, who gets around with a cane, to go the balcony."

Jared Larna, an operations official and firefighter at Friedman Memorial Airport, was driving to work when he saw smoke and pulled onto the scene.

"When I got out it was a very active fire. The entire house was full of pressurized black smoke," Larna said. "We heard there was still someone inside, and we tried access in the first floor entry, but the smoke was down within six inches of the floor. We went around back and still couldn't get in."

By that time Conrad had made his way to the balcony, but was overwhelmed by smoke, according to Larna.

"Somebody hoisted me in the roof and I saw that he was there. I was overcome by smoke, went down, but went back up. We started punching holes in the balcony and yelling at him. He was non-responsive at that point. Two of us (Larna and Dawson) pulled him through one of the holes and dropped him to the guys below. He never hit the ground."

The rescue came within a whisper of being too late, Mattias said.

"We are lucky we got to him when we did, because the whole place went up right after that. It was over in 10 minutes. I am glad he didn't die."

Both Conrads and Dawson were taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center near Ketchum where they were treated for smoke inhalation, according to Bart Lassman, chief of Wood River Fire and Rescue. John Conrad was later transported to the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Boise for further treatment. Lassman said in addition to smoke inhalation, Conrad suffered second-and third-degree burns on his hands, forearm and back of the neck.

Larna was treated for smoke inhalation as well, but drove himself to the hospital.

Patterson said Carey firefighters were on scene until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, quashing hot spots, steam and smoke, and mopping up.

"I would say the house is a total loss. Just a total loss," he said.

A benefit fund has been set up to help the Conrads. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank or Ireland's Bank in Carey under the "John & Edith Conrad Benefit Fund."

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The comments below are from the readers of mtexpress.com and in no way represent the views of Express Publishing Inc.

Christine Storey – Twin Falls Idaho

12/26/07 - 18:16

I knew John and Edith well and My children were raised with their children in Carey years ago. I pray John and Edith will be well and get back on their feet.My Parents Myron and Norma
Wilde were also very close to the Conrads.In days pass we all worked and cried together and I hope they will receive the same caring as we did back then.I am very proud of my Grandson in Law Jared Larna. I feel he deserves praise for his bravery and the help he gave that night.

Prayers for all of you who helped and for the Conrads.
May the next year be better.
Christine (Wilde- Denman)Storey

Vonnie Clark – Springville,UT

12/13/07 - 11:33

I'm another one of Edith's sisters. It is hard not being there to help and support Edith at this time. I too have been through a house fire though not as bad as theirs and I know what a strength the support of others is at such a time.
I am grateful for those who acted so quickly and worked so hard to help Edith and John . I am grateful no lives were lost.
I am grateful for tomorrow wherein eventually life gets back to normal.
My prayers are with John as he recovers and with Edith as she works to get things straightened out and into a new home. I send my love to all and as time goes by if there is anything I can do to help you know I am more than willing.
Hang in there and may God be with you.

Carol Irving – Glenns Ferry, Idaho

12/13/07 - 10:21

I want to thank everyone for their help and support of Edith and John Conrad in the narrow escape of the fire. Edith is my sister. I am sure this is very devastating and am thankful that at least they all made it out with help from people who took time to help when it was really needed. I want to let Edith and John know that even though I can't be there in person I am there in heart. Love you guys!

Rhonda Stewart – NASWI - Oak Harbor, WA

12/12/07 - 09:04

While it is unfortuneate that my family lost everything we owned, including some vehicles, we still have each other. However the baby spoke of in this story was not a grand daughter, it was a grandson - great-grandson to be more specific.

My father is still in the VA, and is in stable condition in the ICU. I appreciate the outpouring of support, not only I, but my family has received.

Special thank you's to WRFR and the Carey Fire District... Max Adamson, Dennis Dawson, and Tom Mattias. Without all of you it could have been far worse. Additional thanks go out to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Carey and Hailey Wards. I do apologize if I have missed anyone, as that is not intentional.

With all my love and blessings!
Happy Holidays Wood River Valley!

Rhonda (Conrad) Stewart
NASWI - Oak Harbor, WA
thomasnrhonda@yahoo.com