Tecumseh's Dalton family getting back on their feet after losing their home to fire
TECUMSEH — The Dalton family, who lost their home Nov. 1, 2022, due to an explosion which set the whole house ablaze, reducing it to rubble and ashes, is now comfortable in a three-bedroom rental house in Tecumseh.
The family, consisting of husband and wife, Ryan and Rebecca, and their daughter, Sabrie, is hoping to rebuild starting in the spring. Sabrie is looking forward to her wedding in June.
“It’s (the rental house) actually perfect for our needs. It’s very helpful having a rental space, especially with my wedding coming up. I’ll be able to have my bridesmaids stay. We have a guest room, which is nice,” Sabrie said. “The insurance has been taking care of us well and our GoFundMe got us into a good spot until the insurance could kick in. We’ve been very fortunate, so praise God.”
A cousin set up a GoFundMe page soon after the fire. It has raised $8,700 at gofund.me/fd69c27b.
“The best part about the GoFundMe is that we were able to get coats and church clothes. I didn’t have any church clothes or just those little things that you don’t even think about, like socks and underwear, because I only had a couple pairs. You don’t even realize all the things you need until they’re gone,” Sabrie said. “Right now, we are in a very good spot and both God and the community have provided for us and taken care of us so well. I could not be more grateful.”
The Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church also held a cookie walk fundraiser for the family in December. And the community just keeps stepping up.
“Someone from Tecumseh came and dropped off a big jar of donations. It was like one of those that you put in money throughout the year, and at the end of the year, you give it to who you think deserves it. Someone popped over and handed it to us and walked away. We’re like, ‘I have questions,’” Sabrie said. “That was $200 just in change and stuff, which was just so beautiful to see someone put a year’s worth of well wishes into caring for you. I’ve never felt more loved in such a horrendous position.”
Sabrie’s wedding dress was burned up in the fire, but it has been replaced and is getting alterations now.
“We actually just got my second dress because the first one was destroyed in the fire,” Sabrie said. “Becker’s Bridal up in Fowler, Michigan, they replaced my dress free of charge per the request of Michelle, the owner of The Wedding Shop up in Berkley — the kindness of strangers — I can’t get over it.”
Her fiance's wedding band was one of the few items that was salvaged from the fire. It was left in pristine condition.
“We’re doing the best we can. We’re still sifting through the rubble and stuff as often as the weather will let us. It’s still emotionally draining and exhausting but with all the outpouring of love it’s been manageable, and God’s been very faithful through it,” Sabrie said. "So far, we have not been able to find anything else, at least anything else that’s salvageable. We find little bits of things and we’re like, ‘Hey, this was my old bracelet,’ or ‘That was a medal from my varsity jacket.’ You can only tell half of it. But we’ve at least been able to find those few things of just some book pages or I had a sketchbook, and I found a couple of pages of those that I could still see what was on it. So that was nice, but other than that nothing is salvageable, and everything smells just horrendous.”
The Dalton family will be rebuilding on the same site, essentially the same three-bedroom ranch they had before, with some minor adjustments.
“It’s just about the same thing. We’re adding on a couple of things. My mom is like, ‘If I have to redo it, at least I’m going to get the kitchen I’ve always wanted.’ Mostly she just wants an island so bad. She’s always wanted one,” Sabrie said. “We’re not really adding on, mostly just trying to get back where we were. We had a really beautiful fireplace when you walked in, so mom’s hoping to get another one of those. It was fantastic. We have missed it in these winter months.”
Unfortunately, the family has not been able to find a contractor to clear out the debris and rubble, so they are looking for help with that.
But most of all, the family is getting back on its feet and feels blessed. The family was not in the home at the time of the explosion because they were tending to the medical emergency of a family member. Even the family dog was staying in another home. They would not have survived had they been home, Tecumseh Fire Chief Joe Tuckey said.
Insurance and other inspectors determined the fire was most likely caused by a grounding rod from a newly installed antenna tower that was driven through the liquified petroleum gas line along the side of the house, causing an explosion, Tuckey said.
The propane tank overheated and the fuel escaping through the release vent ignited about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived on scene, Tuckey said. The firefighters cooled the tank for a few hours until the fuel was gone.
“I would just love to tell the community, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are blown away just by the unconditional love and outpouring of love. Thank you. Prayers are always appreciated, but also whatever way we can help our community and give back to them, we want to be able to do that as well. We’re just very thankful,” Sabrie said.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Dalton family thankful for community help after losing home to fire
