Help Olney woman rebuild after fire

Friends of an Olney woman who lost her home of 35 years in an early morning fire on West Hamilton Street last week are launching a community fundraising drive to help her rebuild her life and home.

Patsy Kimbro, 72, said she was “devastated” to learn that her home burned to the ground in a Jan. 14 fire started by a heater placed on the porch by her grandson and his girlfriend to warm stray cats during the recent cold snap. Mrs. Kimbro was staying at the Graham Oaks Care Center after having surgery on her ankle last July. She has been undergoing rehabilitation for her ankle, she said. She also suffers from retinitis pigmentosa and is legally blind but had planned to return soon to her home, she said.

Wilburn Kimbro, her husband of 42 years, died two years ago. Mrs. Kimbro said the loss of his income meant that she could no longer afford homeowners insurance and thus will not receive any compensation for the loss of her property.

Mr. Kimbro worked for 25 years at Olney Door and Screen, at Electric Hose & Rubber and at the Olney Hamilton Hospital as a janitor. Mrs. Kimbro, who stayed home to raise their blended family’s five children, worked at Stewart’s Grocery Store and the Dollar General when her youngest two were in high school, she said. She was forced to quit working as her blindness worsened, she said.

Firefighters were called to her home at 4:25 a.m. on Jan. 14 and found the structure and a vehicle parked beside it fully engulfed in flames, the Olney Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement. Mrs. Kimbro’s grandson and his girlfriend escaped unharmed thanks to the barking of their dog, and saved her two small dogs from the flames, she said.

The couple had placed a heat lamp on the front porch to warm outdoor cats, Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said. The lamp set the bedding alight and the fire spread to the house and the car, rendering both a total loss, the OVFD said.

Mrs. Kimbro said she is grateful for the community’s interest in her plight. She has only the personal items and clothes that she took with her to Graham.

Derrick Owen, a friend for more than 20 years, has set up a GoFundMe page to help Mrs. Kimbro rebuild her home.

“She lost everything – she has no home, no furniture, nothing,” Mr. Owen said.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Mr. Owen at 940-282-8791 or at dwo76372@gmail. com.