Fund established to help displaced family

WORLAND — A fund to assist Robyn Hance and her 18-year-old son, who were displaced after an apartment fire Thursday, has been set up at Big Horn Federal in Worland.

Hance said today that after some assistance from the Red Cross a local church is also assisting with some housing for a week.

She said she was told Friday that her furniture in the living room is considered a total loss and will need to be replaced but has no place to store any large items at this time. She is looking for a new place to live, she noted.

She said their clothing received smoke damage during the fire. Anyone wanting to donate clothing items or food may drop them off at Hance’s mother’s home, 825 South 14th.

Disaster Program Manager Gehrig Haberstock said Red Cross of Wyoming was able to offer some financial assistance for immediate needs and lodging for the short-term. “Then we’ll help follow-up with casework, so just some short-term problem solving, making sure she’s getting plugged in with the resources in the community, to help get her back on her feet on her road to recovery.”

He said Friday that Hance will need furniture, a microwave, dishes and other kitchen items once she finds a new place to live.

The grease fire Thursday morning destroyed a kitchen and had several apartment residents evacuated for a short time at the Sage Crossing Apartments in Worland.

Worland Fire Capt. Brandon Yule said Hance was heating up oil on her electric range to make french fries. She went upstairs and forgot about the oil until she heard the smoke/fire alarm and came downstairs. She saw the fire and threw a bucket of water. The water, reacting to the boiling grease ignited the cabinets on fire.

Yule reminds residents, “When extinguishing a grease fire on a stove top, never use water, this will cause the fire to “explode” out of the vessel it is in. Smother the fire with a metal lid, never glass as it can shatter. Baking soda can be used on a small fire but a class B fire extinguisher is recommended for large vessels. Immediately vacate the building and call 9-1-1.”

Yule said the fire damage was contained to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout the residence, a two-bedroom apartment.