Donations being accepted through online, in-person avenues
A West Mansfield family is grappling with the loss of all their possessions, including irreplaceable family photos and momentos from loved ones, in a house fire over the holiday weekend, but are thankful today for an outpouring of generosity from their friends, neighbors and other community members during this hardship.
Lance and Corrinna Mongold and their three children, Drevyn, Evelyn and Nora, enjoyed a fishing trip Saturday afternoon at Myeerah Nature Preserve, a place the family loves to frequent as a “little getaway” not far from home.
While enjoying their nature walk and time spent fishing, Lance said his wife had left her phone in the car, but went to retrieve it after her daughter, Nora, 5, caught a large fish.
When Corrinna checked her messages, that’s when the family found out that a fire had broken out at their 145 Vance St., West Mansfield, home.
They were able to photograph their daughter’s catch, and quickly rushed home. Shortly after leaving the nature preserve, the family already started to see smoke in the distance, Lance recounted.
When they arrived home after being away for about two hours for their fishing adventures, they said the entire house was consumed by the flames.
After the fire broke out, they learned that their kindly neighbors, Chris Smith and Penny Rosebrook, had entered the home to save their dogs.
“We are very fortunately that we were safe from harm, and that our dogs were rescued as well. Our neighbors are our true heroes,” Lance said. “Penny has also been taking care of our cat since the fire as well.”
The home, leased by the Mongolds, is owned by Rhonda Lehman of Marysville, according to Logan County Auditor’s Office records. Bokescreek Fire Department and a number of other area fire departments responded to the scene, and the cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature.
Bokescreek Fire Department is continuing to investigate, and Chief Steve Fields requested via the department’s Facebook page that anyone with additional photos of the house fire should contact him.
Lance said the family has been flooded with donations already, especially donations of clothing for the children. His sister has set up a Go Fund Me page for the family to assist with general donations. To find the page, visit www.gofundme.com, and search for “Mongold family house fire.”
In addition, the West Mansfield Hays Community Center, 116 S. Main St., West Mansfield, is collecting items for the family, including clothing, personal and home essentials.
Clothing sizes needed are: girls sizes 5 and 10/12; boy sizes 12/14; size women’s medium (teaches yoga, likes leggings, etc); and size men’s XL (likes shorts and sweats, size 12 shoe).
The West Mansfield center will be unlocked throughout the week for donations. There will be a locked box for cash/gift cards.
“It’s hard to sum up just how grateful we are for all of the help that the community has already given to us,” Lance said. “It’s hard to ask for help, but it’s been amazing to see these needs being taken care of, especially for the children. We’re blessed to live in a tight-knit community.
“We’re so grateful to our families as well, including my mom and to Corrinna’s mother and stepdad for taking us in while we look for a new place. Our clients from our cleaning business also have been so generous to step up and reach out to us.”
The evening of the fire, the Mongolds also were visited by representatives from the American Red Cross and were provided with personal hygiene items and a cash card.
Lance said his father, Keith Jay Mongold, recently passed away, and he lost many personal items and memories of his father in the fire. However, his father’s truck parked outside the home was salvaged from the blaze.
“I’m glad that this little part of him is still with us,” the 2006 Bellefontaine High School graduate said.
“I want thank everyone who has helped us in this tough time. In life, we face many battles, both inside and out. This is a new battle that our family is going through, but we’re not alone. I don’t know where to begin or how to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”