SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – She never thought it would happen to her.
Mina Dillon has been a volunteer firefighter for the Rosebud Fire Department for many years and on Thursday, she helped put out the fire at her own home.
“It was just like, you never know when it might be you, you know. You’re never ready for it. You’re never prepared,” Dillon told KELOLAND News on Friday.
At 4:30 p.m., Dillon’s daughter, Atlantis Witt, arrived home from work to see that their trailer house, shared by Dillon, Witt and her son, was on fire. After assessing the immediate damage, Dillon rushed back to the house in a firetruck to respond. The fire burned until about 6 p.m.
“Then I ran and got a fire truck and then eventually our department started bringing trucks and stuff and they managed to save a little bit of my bedroom where I had important documents,” she said.
She added that trying to put a fire out in her own home was “a little bit hard because as you’re watching your house burn out, you’re trying to assess and trying to look as to what to do.”
The family doesn’t know the cause yet and are staying with Witt’s father for the time being. Today, Dillon and Witt traveled to Pierre to get clothes since Witt and her sons were ruined in the fire.
From her experience working with fires, Dillon knew her trailer home would be unsalvageable.
“Unless you catch it as soon as the fire starts or give or take a couple of minutes, it’s gonna be pretty much a loss,” she noted.
One of Dillon’s other daughters set up a GoFundMe to help cover the financial cost of rebuilding their lives. As of 3 p.m. on Friday, the fundraiser has made $4,550. Apart from financial help, Dillon said the family will be in need of new beds, dressers and furniture once they find a more permanent place.
Dillon said she appreciates the support from the community over the last day including Dillon’s “fire department family,” the school she works at and family friends.
“I’m just kind of glad that people are pushing things forward for us and stuff,” she said. “I just appreciate anything that anybody can offer.”
