None hurt in group home fire

The six elderly residents who live at the Weatherly House in Clarkston were watching television when an attic fire forced them to evacuate Thursday morning.

The adult family home at 1310 12th St. suffered major damage, but all the occupants were safely assisted across the street to Clarkston Care Center before the smoke started billowing from the roof into the whipping wind.

"Everyone was real calm," said Shayleigh Banks, the caregiver on duty. "The people from Clarkston Care Center were so awesome. They helped me get everyone out and they gave our residents and caregivers food."

Having a fire break out in their home was probably unsettling for the Weatherly residents, but temporary housing has been arranged and no one was injured, officials said.

"We practice fire drills so they knew what to do," said owner Dayna Weatherly. "They were settled within a half-hour. Clarkston Care Center has been very good to us and the community has been great. We've had people stopping by asking if they (can) do anything to help. All of my staff came and helped out."

Clarkston police officers Scott Wohl and John Morbeck assisted in the evacuation process and made sure everyone was out of the house. Other officers blocked the streets as 20 responders went to work.

The fire call came in at 11:17 a.m. and the Clarkston Fire Department was on the scene by 11:21 a.m., said Chief Steve Cooper. The blaze was under control by noon.

The house is owned by Weatherly and Jim Gosso, who live on the premises in an apartment at the end of the driveway. Gosso was at the home as firefighters doused the shake roof and attendants cared for the elderly occupants across the street. Smoke was thick in the gusting wind conditions as people gathered on the sidewalk to watch.

A neighbor said it smelled like a hot chimney right before the smoke started pouring out of the roof area. Gosso said a fireplace had been in use that morning. Fire investigators were still trying to pin down the exact cause of the fire Thursday afternoon.

The residence suffered extensive water damage throughout the house, Cooper said. Fire crews had to pull down the ceilings on the first floor to get to the attic.

Because of the wind, the city received complaints of smoke from as far away as Parkway Elementary School, the chief said.

A firefighter went to the emergency room to get checked out after a ladder collapsed. He has some lower back pain, but was able to return to duty, Cooper said.

Later in the day, the owners were looking at the soggy contents of the house. They are hoping most of the residents' personal possessions can be salvaged.

"We have to assess the damage, but the most important thing is get my clients situated and comfortable," Weatherly said. "That's my top priority."

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Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2264.