Burned-out family gets a helping hand

Griswold - When Shannon Bowers got a text message from her younger sister last Friday night saying their house was on fire, she left work and drove toward home.

The drive from New London to Griswold was a blur for the 27-year-old.

"It was crazy," Shannon said. "I didn't even know what to do. I couldn't comprehend what it meant."

Her sister, Kimberly Bowers, 24, had been baby-sitting Shannon's 4-year-old daughter, Riley. As she and Riley prepared for bed, Kimberly saw what she thought were a car's brake lights outside and went downstairs to investigate. She was halfway down the stairs when she saw flames running up the side of the house.

Kimberly ran upstairs and took Riley "Santa sack style" out of the house and, barefoot, drove down the long, winding driveway and called the fire department.

Shannon's mother, Laurie Bowers, also was at work and raced home once she was told of the fire.

Griswold Fire Marshal Fred Marzec said this week that half of the two-story Cape Cod-style home at 19 George Palmer Road was destroyed by the fire. One firefighter was taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries fighting what Marzec deemed a "stubborn" blaze.

No cause has been determined, but Marzec did confirm that the fire began outside.

It took about an hour to get the fire under control. Griswold, Lisbon, Preston City, Poquetanuck, Taftville, Voluntown and Plainfield fire departments were among those that responded. Ledyard and state police and Griswold ambulance responded as well.

Shannon said most of the damage was confined to the upstairs portion of the house, including her bedroom, her daughter's bedroom, a bathroom and the attic. But smoke and water damage may mean the house will have to be torn down, she added.

Many prized possessions, like photographs, were salvaged, Shannon said. "The firefighters did an amazing job," she said. "They pulled out picture albums and put them on the porch."

The family has been living at the AmericInn in Griswold but have their sights on a rental home in North Stonington.

For Laurie Bowers, knowing that her daughter, granddaughter, and their 2-year-old German shepherd were safe was the "top priority."

"It was a very scary night," she said. "You feel so bad when it happens to other people and hope it doesn't happen to you. But afterwards, we just walked around the house (inventorying the damage) and thought, it's just stuff. We're really lucky we have that good attitude, that it's just stuff."

Some of that stuff is well on its way to being replaced. Shannon said money, clothing, gift-card donations and well-wishes have been streaming in.

Tracey Maynard, Shannon's co-worker at Hot Rod Cafe in New London, said she started selling "Helping Hearts" for a minimum $5 donation over the weekend. That drive, and a general plea for aid, has netted the family more than $550.

"Literally, random people have been coming in and dropping off money for groceries," Maynard said this week. "All the employees here are like one big family, so we've really come together and supported Shannon."

Laurie Bowers, who has worked at the Steak Loft in Mystic for 26 years, said the restaurant has organized a Feb. 28 fundraiser for the family. The date coincides with Shannon's 28th birthday.

"I'm usually the one that likes to give out and do something for other people," Laurie Bowers said. "I'm just overwhelmed by people giving back to us."

Amanda LaFleshe, a family friend, has set up a fund at Citizens Bank, and her employer, H&R Block, is accepting donations.

"(Laurie) is one of the hardest-working people I've ever met," LaFleshe said. "She's trying to make ends meet and trying to provide for her family. She works so hard, has such a big heart and helps everybody. She'll give you the shirt off her back. I told her, 'You're always helping everybody, it's time you get some help.' "

Others seem to think so, too. On Thursday, among other gifts, the family received anonymous cash donations in the mail.

"It's overwhelming, the whole situation," Shannon said. "People we don't even know actually care that much. I honestly can't even express how I feel about this because it's very surreal."

s.goldstein@theday.com