Palmer families lose homes to fire

PALMER -- Stan Roach walks around his lightly snow-covered property shaking hands with firefighters and friends thanking them for their efforts to save his home, but they are too late.

Instead Roach watches as his home of nine years smolders. The only flames visible are the ones eating away at his Ford pick-up. However Stan stands tall, a pastor of the Independent Baptist Church of Anchorage, he takes the loss well and doesn't show too much emotion. The sun is shining and the wind is lightly tipping the tree tops.

The fire started about 10:30 a.m. Friday as Roach was trying to get his water going.

"I was trying to thaw out my pipes when a flame escaped and, poof, the entire wall was enflamed," said Roach. The insulation became a fire wall that quickly engulfed his house and the house behind his, he said.

The house behind Roach's belongs to his son Joshua Roach, assistant pastor to his father.

As forestry crews work to contain the wind-driven blaze Joshua Roach's family arrives on scene. With hugs and tears the Roach's discover their home is gone.

They then move and gather with friends at neighbor Sally Forss' home, where tears and hugs continue in the wooden A-framed home. Stan Roach emerges from the sorrow and shares his feelings. He cites Job from the bible and says his first thoughts were of his material memories.

"My first thoughts were about my first bible, my pictures, those sorts of things mean a lot to me … and I thought about my custom Harley Davidson motorcycle, which is now lost," Roach said.

"It's hard but we'll make it," he added.

Outside Joshua is receiving hugs from friends as in the background his former house smolders.

"All three of my children were born in that house, this is where my wife and I settled after our honeymoon about nine years ago," Joshua Roach said.

"After my house was built I helped my father and his wife build their house," Joshua added.

Joshua was joined by his wife Sylvia and three children, Priscilla, Autumn and Remington, as they warmed in Fross' home sharing their emotions.

Palmer Assistant Fire Chief Barry Mothershead and a small Palmer crew work to aid the Forestry crews in their efforts to continue to battle the blaze.

"We're here for water support," Mothershead said.

"We've been running around so much in the last couple of days … Wasilla though, they have been hit hard," he added.

People who wish to pass on thoughts and concerns for the Roach families can call their neighbor, Sally Fross, at 746-2718, or call the Independent Baptist Church of Anchorage at (907) 562-3004.