Bob & Susie Burns Fire Recovery Fund

Bob and Susie Burns are known and loved throughout the community. Active members of our church, town, and school district, as well as the most loving parents to their 5 children and their 5 spouses, and grandparents to 17 grandchildren, 7 grandchildren-in-law, and 13 great-grandchildren. Everyone that entered their home was extended family to them, and their home was often open to others as a place to stay from out of town. It hosted grandkids’ slumber parties, countless bridal and baby showers, post-wedding brunches, baptism and first communion receptions, birthday parties, and decades of Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s celebrations, as well as a wedding in front of the fireplace that also held the dozens of stockings at Christmas. For 40 years, this house was the hub of our family, run by our amazing patriarch and matriarch.

Monday, August 14, at around 9pm, that house was lost to a fire that was already raging in the attached garage before Bob and Susie knew about it. They were relaxing in their living room together, watching a movie, when they heard a commotion that sounded like someone was trying to break into their home from the garage. Susie called 911 while Bob went to investigate, never expecting to be met with black smoke filling their kitchen. Susie cried out for help on the 911 call already in progress while she ran to her husband’s side. Bob was barefoot and without his cane, and his wife helped him keep his balance as they rushed to the front door. Upon exiting the house, they quickly realized they couldn’t get off the deck there, as flames were billowing out their garage doors, blocking the steps. They couldn’t go back inside as the fire raged through their kitchen and filled the great room with thick smoke and ash, family photos falling off the walls as the heat continued to rise. Bob and Susie made their way around the deck to the back of the house, and they miraculously were able to get past the kitchen windows that, by the Grace of God, had not blown out yet. They journeyed down the back hill, around the house, and up the hill to their neighbor’s house, watching helplessly as their family home was burning.

As you know, insurance doesn’t cover everything, and my grandparents lost absolutely everything to the fire. We are so grateful they made it out, but they have a long road ahead of them. I know how loved they are, so let’s lift them up in prayer, as well as community support. We put a preliminary number as the goal because we just don’t know what they’ll need, so any amount would help and is so appreciated! Thank you so much. ♥️

With love,

Erin (oldest grandchild of Bob and Susie)