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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula January 6, 2002 Text © 2002 Michele Anderson

Red Cross aids family made homeless by fire; injured mom moved to Duluth Burn Center

HANCOCK -- A Calumet Township mother and her two children -- who lost all their possessions when a fire swept through their side of a duplex home early Monday morning, Dec. 31, 2001 -- have received aid from the Western Upper Peninsula American Red Cross. The mother, Deborah Stiehl, who was originally taken to the Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center on Monday, has been moved to the Burn Center in Duluth, Minn.

Stiehl and her children -- Molly Jo, 8, and Samantha, 10 -- have received some clothing, purchased from Shopko through Red Cross assistance. The children have been staying with Deborah Stiehl's mother, Margaret Benda of Calumet Township.

Kim Claypool, executive director for the American Red Cross, Western Upper Peninsula office in Hancock, said people can make donations of cash, clothing or other items through the Red Cross.

"If people want to make donations, they can," Claypool said on Wednesday, Jan. 2. "They (the family) lost everything. They need everything."

Claypool said donations can be dropped off at the Red Cross office or mailed to this address:

    American Red Cross
    Deborah Stiehl Fund
    1055 S. Lincoln Drive
    Hancock, MI 49930

The office was recently moved from the former E.L. Wright School Building. It is located in a yellow house at 1055 S. Lincoln (U.S. 41), just about a block from the school building, on the left if driving toward Hancock.

Calumet Township Fire Chief Keith Jenich said the family escaped the fire with only the sleepwear on their backs.

"No shoes," he said. "Nothing else."

Jenich noted the firefighters and police of Houghton and Keweenaw counties are giving the family a donation.

"That money is generated when we have our annual 'Pigs in Heat' hockey game," Jenich said.

Jenich confirmed that the fire damage on the Stiehl family's side of the duplex was extensive. Jenich noted as of Jan. 3 he had not established the cause of the fire other than what Deborah Stiehl had told him -- that she thought it must have started somewhere near the heater in the living room.

According to Benda, her daughter Deborah Stiehl suffered serious burns when she was trying to put out the fire and suffered some smoke inhalation; but her lungs are now clear. After being treated at Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center's Emergency Department, Stiehl was moved the same day (Dec. 31) to the Miller-Dwan Burn Center in Duluth, where she is still receiving treatment.

Benda said a male nurse at Keweenaw Memorial told her the Emergency staff there "did a beautiful job of emergency treatment."

Benda expressed appreciation for the American Red Cross supplying clothing for Deborah and her two children.

"I think the children have enough clothes," Benda said. "A Hancock merchant, owner of the Red Wing Shoe Store, donated some beautiful snow boots for the children."

Benda added Deborah's employers at Kathy's Country Flowers in Hancock "have been most kind and supportive" and Calumet Elementary School and the First Apostolic Lutheran Church have been very helpful as well.

"The family is most grateful," Benda said. "We thank God that all three are safe."

Margaret Benda, formerly Margaret Junttila, is a native of Calumet and a retired special education teacher. She recently returned to the Copper Country after teaching many years in Farmington Hills, Mich.

While the family is not really requesting a fund, Benda said, they will need household items when her daughter establishes her home again.

Ahmeek resident loses everything in Dec. 26 fire

Richard Book of Ahmeek fortunately was not injured since he was at work when his home was destroyed by fire.

"He lost everything," Lahti said. "The whole house is a total loss."

Frank Spagnotti, first assistant fire chief for the Ahmeek Volunteer Fire Department, said several departments assisted in fighting the fire at Book's residence -- Ahmeek, Allouez Township, Copper City and Calumet Township volunteer fire departments.

"All the departments that were involved did an excellent job of saving the structure (a house) that was next to it," Spagnotti said.

He noted Richard Book is staying with his brother, Charles Book of Kearsarge. Keweenaw Now was not able to determine whether or not any fund has been organized for Richard.