Family loses everything in house fire

Three pets also perished in blaze at home in Lyons

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

While most of Burlington was engrossed with the Schuette-Daniels Furniture Store fire earlier this month, another fire devastated a family in the Town of Lyons just two days later.

Renee and Jim Michals, along with their two foster daughters, were displaced from their home April 7. While all four were uninjured, three family pets perished in the blaze.

“We’re just trying to get through every day living,” said Renee on Tuesday.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The fire started on the evening of April 7, apparently when the couple was out of the home and at a school meeting with the two foster children.

“I walked up to the door, opened the door, and was met by a wall of smoke and flames,” said Renee. “We sat out there for about two and a half hours.

“We lost everything but the clothes on our backs.”

Unfortunately, that included the family’s 8-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Bernie, as well as two cats, Willie and Moe. Another dog, that happened to be outside at the time, survived.

Renee said she and the rest of the family are struggling with the loss of the animals.

“You just don’t expect it,” she said. Renee and her husband have raised labs for 30 years. “It’s tough.”

She added that one of the foster daughters called the animals her babies.

“They slept with her at night,” Michals said.

The couple has found temporary quarters with their son and his wife. They are awaiting word on whether the house can be repaired, or whether they will have to tear it down and rebuild.

Married for close to 34 years, Renee and Jim have lived in their home on North Road in Lyons for almost 23 years.

In the meantime, they have found a five-bedroom home in Honey Creek they can rent, and will move there at the end of the month. However, they are still looking for furniture to help fill the home, as well as beds for both herself and her husband, and the two girls.

“We need so much stuff yet,” Renee said. “It’s very, very overwhelming.”

She said she is thankful to family and friends, as well as the area fire departments that responded.

“They were so supportive and so nice,” Renee said. “I want to thank all of them.”

Love, Inc. has also come through with everything from dishes to clothes.

“Just the things like that, it makes it easier to get through,” she added.