Passing pastor likely saved couple from fire, family says

Yahoo

29-04-2025

David and Kim Cline escaped injury when their Lebanon home and garage caught fire Sunday morning, but the house and everything in it are likely a total loss, family said.
Aaron Cline said a passerby probably saved his father and stepmother's lives.
'There was a Nazarene pastor driving by, but this wasn't the road he usually takes,' Aaron said. 'At first he thought he drove through fog, but he smelled the smoke and came back. Then he saw the glow at the back of the house.
'He pounded on the doors. No one answered, and he did what he had to do and went inside and made sure everybody was getting out.'
Aaron was sorry he didn't get the man's name in all the chaos that followed. But he's certain his being there at the right time was God's doing.
'I don't see how you could argue against it,' he said. 'After seeing the inside of the house, yeah, he was there for a reason.'
Flames began in a detached garage and moved to the house, Aaron said. A carport collapsed and siding melted off the east side of the house. The exterior didn't look like the house suffered devastating damage. But it got so hot inside that the couple's belongings melted.
'We were trying to get things out of my dad's bedroom,' Aaron said. 'There was no actual fire in there, but when we were taking stuff out, it was so hot as if the fire had gotten in.'
Strangers showed up to help immediately.
'I talked to some people all of five minutes yesterday,' Aaron said Monday morning. 'They drove away and 25 minutes later came back with a $100 store gift card. It's humbling, but I think that kind of shows you what a small town is all about.'
Aaron and his siblings and step-siblings were keeping an eye on the house Monday, and staying with their parents when an insurance adjuster came. They wanted to take some pressure off the couple.
Lebanon Fire Department Capt. Matt Young was still wrapping up his investigation Monday afternoon. He said the fire likely began in the garage and was not suspicious in nature. But his official statement was to come after press time Monday. He said the house is likely a total loss because of fire and extensive heat and smoke damage.
The Salvation Army of Boone County put the Clines up in a Whitestown motel on Sunday night. They don't know where they will stay long-term, Aaron said. He thinks they have enough clothing for the immediate future but said store gift cards would be immeasurably helpful.
The couple's daughter-in-law, Suzanne Mace, set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $3,000 to help the couple with daily expenses and housing costs in the interim. Search for 'Rebuilding lives after devastation fire' at gofundme.com to donate.