The Paola community is reaching out to help members of the McDowell family as they attempt to start over after losing their home to a fire recently. Firefighters were called to the home at 301 N. Silver at about 9:30 Saturday, November 1st. Gordon McDowell was home with his wife, Becky, at the time, along with their daughter and her four children. His youngest grandchildren were having a sleepover, so there also were a couple of friends over. Gordon and his wife were upstairs in bed when the fire started and he’s very thankful for the sleepover and that the kids were playing xbox downstairs when they spotted the fire in the back mudroom of the house.
Paola Fire Chief Bruce Hartig says the fire was mostly contained to the back enclosed porch area of the home and the attic, but the heat, smoke and water damage was extensive throughout the house. The cause of the fire was a faulty electrical cord in the mudroom.
A go fund me page has been established and a fund at First Option Bank has been set up for donations.
