Within about an hour on Monday, a massive blaze swept through a Bowman family’s home, leaving little standing in its path.
By Bryce Martin | Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Within about an hour on Monday, a massive blaze swept through a Bowman family’s home, leaving little standing in its path.
Jeremy and Kara Longland, owners of Uptown Bar and Grill in Bowman, stood helplessly as they watched firefighters attempt to extinguish the large fire that ultimately claimed their home on 6th Avenue in Bowman.
No injuries were reported, but the house was a total loss.
The inferno quickly grew from an area at the south part of the home just as volunteers with the Bowman Fire Department responded around noon to the scene, northeast of the city.
The size of the blaze required the assistance of several area fire crews, including volunteers from Scranton and Rhame Fire Departments.
The home’s entire structure quickly became engulfed as the fire swept its way to the north, claiming the house’s attached, three-stall garage. A pick-up truck was still parked in the garage and was completely destroyed.
A large plume of black smoke was visible miles away.
Flames ripped through most of the single-story structure, which had three bedrooms on the first floor and several in its basement. Once the flames were extinguished, nothing was left but charred remains of some personal property from the home and only a few burnt studs were left standing.
Kara’s three dogs were located in the garage and rescued by Bowman Volunteer Firefighter Kevin Bagley, according to Kara’s daughter, Tyleen Thompson.
No one else was in the home at the time the fire broke out.
“The fire looks to have started in the ceiling area of the southeast corner,” said Chris Palczewski, Bowman Fire Chief.
With high winds and temperatures the following day, the fire department continued to monitor the scene as it continued to smolder. Palczewski said crews were also monitoring the scene Wednesday.
The fire’s cause remains undetermined, he said.
Kara said she was at her business when she received news from a friend that the home was on fire. At first, she explained, she thought it was a joke. She quickly dialed 911, which informed her that crews were en route.
Local homeowner Tim Oberfoell and Craig Reindel, a hired man for Hilton farms, were the first on the scene of the fire. Reindel initially called in the blaze to 911, according to reports. Bobbie Fossum, who lives across the street from the Longland’s home, said she also phoned police.
It was reported that Oberfoell and Reindel made a quick judgment call to remove anything they could from the garage — items that were potentially explosive — and had hurried to turn off the home’s two large propane tanks.
Fire crews required a tie-in to a city water line several hundred yards to the west of the scene. The area of the home is not tied into city infrastructure, being outside city limits, so crews couldn’t attach to fire hydrants. About three tankers, each from Bowman, Rhame and Scranton’s departments, trucked water to the scene.
The fire was contained at around 1:30 p.m.
Bowman County Sheriff Rory Teigen and Deputy Doug Langhoff directed traffic on Highway 85 at its intersection with 6th Avenue.
Thompson said she had recently purchased a new home and her parents would likely stay there for the time being.
It wasn’t long before the community stepped up to help.
“Words cannot express how saddened we are to hear about Jeremy and Kara Longland and family losing their home today,” read a post on Turbiville Photography’s Facebook page. “They have been wonderful clients and we have made so many memories together through seniors and families.”
Ryanna Turbiville, owner of Turbiville Photography, posted several of the family’s photos and explained they could recover every photo she ever took of the family at any time. The photos were “at their disposal,” as Turbiville wrote.
A GoFundMe.com account was established to ease the burden now facing the family, and a local drop-off site was made to receive donations for the family.
You can help support the Longland family by visiting www.gofundme.com/rx7mf8 or by dropping off a donation at the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center office next to Farmers Union Insurance in Bowman.