BARABOO - After the shock of losing their home of 28 years, Philip and Marilyn Urben are rebuilding, grateful for the help of emergency service workers, their church community and many friends they didn't even know they had.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Urbens lost their home on Old Lake Road to a blaze sparked by a charcoal grill. This week the frame of a new house is rising on the old foundation while newly-arrived trusses and a crane wait for workers to begin building the roof.
Marilyn woke about 12:30 the morning of the fire to Snowflake, their Pyrenees dog, barking. As she looked out the window she saw reddish light and thought at first it was Halloween decorations they had put up. Then she remembered there were no lights on that side of the house.
Philip tried unsucessfully to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. As the flames invaded the house they called the fire department and got their two grandchildren and pets to safety.
They were fortunate Snowflake warned them because the fire was mostly in the ceiling of their home, so their smoke alarms didn't sound, Philip said.
The Baraboo firefighters, ambulance crew and Sauk County Sheriff's deputies were all helpful during the effort to control the blaze, they said. Firefighters worked hard to save as much of their property as possible.
Baraboo Fire Chief Kevin Stieve said 23 firefighters responded to the call and the fire was spreading through the ceiling when they arrived. It was a challenge to find all the places fire was hiding and extinguish them, he said, but his crews are well trained and did their job effectively.
Other neighbors and volunteers from the Sauk County Disaster Unit of the Salvation Army helped the Urbens get back on their feet after the blaze. Later, the Urbens received shelter in the form of a cabin at the nearby Devil's Lake Resort run by Jim and Ann Semsar. It was their home several weeks as they worked to bring their lives back together.
Marilyn said the most difficult thing she experienced was being displaced from her normal life. Much of their clothing and things she used for routine chores were lost.
"When we were at the cabin I'd think 'I'll make this for supper,' and I go 'I don't have this pot or I don't have that pan, or I can't make a pie because I don't have a pie pan,"' she said.
Philip said insurance will cover almost all the costs of replacing their home, but he had to endure six weeks of delay after the insurance company replaced the first adjuster on their case. The uncertainty of their situation was the most difficult thing for him, he said.
Their former home was soaked by firefighters extinguishing the blaze and had mold problems, Philip said, so they followed the recommendation of their insurance company and are completely rebuilding a home very similar to their old one.
Fortunately, they were able to find a local contractor who began work almost immediately, said Philip. He had a pleasant surprise Wednesday as lumber arrived early.
The love of many people, including New Life Community Church members, helped them through their tough experience, Philip said. Many of their prayers have been answered.
Whenever a fire department is called to a house fire, the dispatcher notifies a team of volunteers from the Salvation Army, said Corene Ederer-Sklar, director of Sauk County Emergency Management. They travel to the scene and try to ensure people displaced by the blaze are taken care of.
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