Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Family of seven loses all to fire

A late morning blaze at the home of Wayne Schee, on Highway 53 leaving Gurdon toward Whelen Springs, resulted in a total loss of the house despite an all afternoon effort by two fire departments.

The residence is located on the left, a couple of miles from the Gurdon city limits.

The fire apparently started in the livingroom and spread throughout the main structure. Two of the seven residents were home and suffered minor injuries.

A mother and daughter were taken to a hospital, then treated and released.

Whelen Springs Fire Chief Sam LeMay said during clean-up on Thursday, "We got the call at 11 a.m. Wednesday and nine firefighters from Whelen Springs went to the scene with three trucks. Two of them were pumper tanks.

"Chief Robert Burns of Gurdon and firefighter Jimmy Martin came out to help us. They brought one truck."

According to Chief LeMay, Schees daughter-in-law, Tamie Schee, and her 5-year-old daughter, Devan Rucker, were the only ones home during the fire. They were checked at Baptist Medical Hospital in Arkadelphia.

Tamie Schee was admitted and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Chief LeMay said firefighters fought to control the blaze until 5:30 p.m., saving from damage a shed and trailer next to the house.

"We could not save the house but were able to contain the fire so the other structures would be OK," he said. "Then I got a call shortly after we left saying the blaze had started up again, so we went back and put two more loads of water on it. We finally extinguishing the fire that evening."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The home belonged to Wayne Schee and was occupied by Wayne, his son, Marty Schee, Martys wife, Tamie Schee, and Marty and Tamies four children.

The children are: Justin Kidder, 13; Matt Kidder, 10; Joseph Rucker, 5; and their sister, Devan Rucker, 5.

Chief LeMay said the group was put up in a motel Wednesday night by the Red Cross.

"They do need clothes and other provisions," the chief said.

The Gurdon Fountain of Hope Food Bank, at North Second Street and Walnut, is collecting clothing for the family.

Sizes for Wayne are: 30 to 34 pants and large shirts; Marty, 28 to 30 pants, large shirts; Devan and Joseph, 5T; Matt, youth size 10 pants, youth large shirts; Justin, size 12 pants, teens large shirts; and Tamie, sizes 7-9 in pants and large shirts.