Fire guts Alorton house shortly after power is restored. Only photos, memories remain.
Its power having been knocked out by an overnight storm that swept 60 mph wind gusts across the metro-east, DeMarco Martin left his darkened Alorton house for a workout Wednesday morning.
It was shortly after the electricity was restored to his home of 60 years that Martin’s phone began lighting up with text messages and phone calls.
“They said ‘Marco, your house is on fire,’” he said. “I thought they were kidding. I was waiting on the punch line … When I got another call and I knew it was serious. I have been in that house 60 years and I have never had a problem.”
Fire gutted the house on the 4100 block of East Broadway, just after AmerenUE crews restored the electricity at about 10 a.m.
“My neighbor said as soon as the power came on, my house burned up, Martin said.
The Alorton Fire Department received the emergency call at 10:15, village code enforcement director Anthony LeFlore said. What remains of the house will be condemned, he added.
Ameren officials said they can not comment until an investigation by the Alorton Fire Department and state fire marshal’s office is completed and an official cause of the fire is determined.
Alorton Fire Chief DeMario Douglas was not available for comment Wednesday.
“I need answers,” Martin said, shaking his head in disbelief as he watched firefighters douse his home.
Among the items rescued from the structure were two large picture frames — their glass shattered by the fire — containing photos of relatives and neighborhood children playing basketball in the backyard.
But it was when a fireman from Alorton emerged from the burned out house with the black urn that contained the remains of his deceased mother that Martin was able to breathe a little easier.
“As long as I have my momma, I am cool ... I am cool,” he said.
Martin said his mother, Mabel Martin, combined the houses at 4180 and 4176 East Broadway to create one large house back in the 1970s. Deidre Martin said their mother wanted a big home so that there was plenty of room for anyone in the family who wanted to visit.
The house became a center of activity for family and neighbors, the memories of whom were preserved in the rescued picture frames. Those children are in their 40s now, Martin said.
“Look at them,” he said as he studied the photographs. “My mom has been dead 20 plus years, but the memories she built here still live here. It was a safe, warm and caring environment. ... I am devastated.”
Tears flowed down Deidre Martin’s face as she looked at the photos.
“There are so many good times and so much fun,” she said.
Sierra Rule said she had just gotten off of work when she heard about the fire at her neighbor’s house.
“He just got power. I don’t understand how that happened,” she said. “There was no power there until just a few minutes ago.”
Martin said he believes that Ameren has the answers. He said he knew of no issues with the house before the company restored its power.
