Devastating fire destroys Russell Community home

Ash and rubble are all that remain of the beautiful “Hickory Ridge” ranch home. Sherry’s Shots Late on Wednesday afternoon Centerville Fire Department received a 9-1-1 call advising them of a fire on CR 289 in the Russell Community off FM 1511. The Flo VFD was dispatched at 5:15 p.m. and soon firefighters and trucks from Jewett and Buffalo were at the scene with Leona VFD on standby.

Earlier that afternoon Chuck and Deborah Keepers had left for a long-anticipated vacation to the Dakotas. They had left their home and ranch with two teenage girls whose duty was to care for the dogs and miniature horses which belong to the Keepers.

The Keepers made it as far as Oklahoma City when they received a call from neighbor Debbie Clanton that their home had burned to the ground. The girls were out of the fire safely but their old black lab was lost in the flames.

According to Clanton, the Keepers had arranged for the girls to house sit and had taken a couple of days to show them the procedures for caring for the animals. The Keepers have 28 head of miniature horses and two dogs.

Apparently, shortly after the Keepers left for their trip, one of the girls decided to fry some green tomatoes. A grease fire was ignited and the girls panicked, not knowing what to do. One of them drove Mr. Keepers’ car to a neighbors’ house and called 9-1-1. However, by the time the fire trucks were on site the structure was completely in flames.

Clanton had driven over to Hickory Ridge, the name of the Keepers’ ranch, to check on the girls and be sure the animals were okay. When she arrived the fire trucks were on site and the house was almost totally destroyed. The girls were hysterical.

The Keepers moved to this area five years ago and built their ranch house to their particular tastes. The cedar floors can be replaced but family keepsakes are priceless and irreplaceable.

Clanton said “I can’t be sure that they will rebuild, but I think they will. One neighbor has already said they would donate granite for their counter tops when they do.”