Local boy saves family from fire
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By Jeff Snyder
Mount Ayr, Iowa — Tragedy struck a Mount Ayr family on November 29 as fire ripped through their two story home at 601 Madison Street.
While there were no human casualties, the family, nonetheless, suffered the loss of three of their beloved pets, with one still missing.
The fire struck at approximately 12:45 Saturday morning and alarms went out to all the regional fire departments as is required when the call involves a structure fire.
Ed Rotert, of the Mount Aye department, explained that
“Structural fires demand the maximum responses possible, so that’s why all companies in the area are signaled at once,” Mount Ayr firefighter Ed Rotert said.
Mount Ayr’s company was first on the scene as the fire occurred literally in their back yard. Multiple trucks were dispatched from Mount Ayr, followed by trucks from near by communities.
“The house was fully engaged even as quickly as the department responded,” Rotert said.
Upon arrival, Rotert said that crews including nine members of the local company immediately engaged the blaze.
Ventilation holes were chopped through the roofs exterior to allow for smoke dissipation and better access to the upper reaches of the blaze.
“The fire was extremely smoky.” Rotert said, making it hard if not impossible to pinpoint the exact location of the fires origin.
The fire remains under investigation as to its cause.
The family owes their survival to the true hero of this tragedy, 5-year-old Kyro Kissinger.
Young Kyro detected the fire and warned his grandpa, who was upstairs at the time, “Grandma said she smelled something.”
Ed Corum initially didn’t respond to his young grandson’s plea but eventually reacted as Kyro was insistent that he come check. Once Corum realized the seriousness of the situation he gathered up his granddaughter Jenna, who was upstairs with him, and headed down the steps. By the time he reached the bottom of the staircase visibility was almost zero.
“I got to the bottom of the steps and saw the smoke traveling across the ceiling and then I saw the flames,” Corum said. “I could only see about a foot off the floor because of the smoke. I stumbled but caught myself and headed for the front door. The smoke was so thick I couldn’t see the door. I just moved to where I knew it should be because we have lived there so long.”
Once outside he made sure that everyone was out and then realized his dog and cats were still inside. He called to them but by that time it was too late.
Corum was transported to Ringgold County Hospital where he spent the next five hours being treated for smoke inhalation.
The family believes that the fire represents a total loss and the home they spent the last 24 years in was gone.
The family’s daughter, Christina, has set up a “Go fund me” account in hopes that the community could lend a financial hand. They are currently residing in the Mount Ayr Hotel and are awaiting information from their insurance company to let them know what options they have moving forward.
They literally left the home with the clothes they had on their backs. All else was lost.
The Go Fund Me account is set up under Christine and Ellen Corum.
They wanted to express their gratitude for the outpouring of the community in helping them through this tragedy, but most importantly they wanted say how much they owed to their hero grandson Kyro.
Kyro’s grandma Ellen said ironically “Kyro just had fire safety at his school the week before the fire. I wonder if that helped”
They both said how proud they were of his bravery.
