Kyle family loses home to fire

By Kevin Woster, Journals staff | Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

Michelle Iron Crow and her five children are trying to hang on to some Christmas spirit, three days after a fire destroyed their house in Kyle.

But it isn't easy to celebrate the season without a home, most personal belongings and the Christmas presents that were burned up along with their Christmas tree, Iron Crow said Sunday night.

"We're all sad. We lost our home right before Christmas," she said from the Prairie Ranch Resort in Kyle, where she and her children had three nights lodging courtesy of the American Red Cross. "They (her children) expected to be home now with presents under the tree."

The short-term motel stay was set to end today, however. Without alternative housing, Iron Crow was planning Sunday to move in with her sister, Shelly Middletent, who lives with her family in Yellow Bear Canyon about 10 miles south of Kyle.

When asked if she had room for her sister and her family, Middletent said: "I'll make room."

Iron Crow said she'll do that for now. But she hopes to find another home for herself and her children, who range in age from four to 12.

The family was away from the house at a birthday party early Friday evening. When they returned, they saw a light through the window that Michelle feared was fire.

"I went in there trying to look for a fire extinguisher, but I got lost in the smoke," Iron Crow said. "I just don't know what to think now."

Iron Crow works at a convenience store in Kyle but is taking time off to look get resettled in temporary quarters and begin looking a more permanent place to settle her family.

"I have a big family," she said. "I don't know what's going to happen next."

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com

 

To donate:

Monetary donations for the Michelle Iron Crow family may be made through the Security First Bank of Martin. Arrangements for direct donations of blankets, clothing and other necessities are pending.