‘Thank God I wasn’t home’ Beecher woman reflects on house fire

BEECHER — Ann Loitz in Beecher is lucky to be alive after a mid-December fire destroyed her single-story home.

Loitz, 93, has lived in her house for 67 years. She’s been a Beecher resident even longer, having had lived in the Will County village for 72 years.

The house fire happened at 2:57 p.m. Dec. 12. Fortunately, Loitz wasn’t home at the time of the fire. She was at a dentist appointment.

The Beecher Fire Protection District along with surrounding departments responded to the structure fire at 1220 S. Dixie Highway.

Within five minutes of the call, first crews arrived at the house. Heavy fire was coming from Loitz’s home.

The initial fire company began an aggressive interior attack of the fire and searched for any occupants. Some 38 firefighters were on the scene, including seven engines, four tenders (water trucks), three trucks and six fire chiefs from different agencies.

The fire was brought under control within 60 minutes. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, said Beecher Fire Chief Joseph Falaschetti.

The fire departments on the scene encountered a significant delay in establishing a positive water supply due to four inoperable fire hydrants along Dixie Highway between Church Road and Chestnut Lane, according to a press release.

Falaschetti could not comment on why the hydrants weren’t working.

He did say the village of Beecher was looking into the reason why the fire hydrants weren’t working.

Village of Beecher administrator Charity Mitchell said with the cold temperatures that day and adding in the wind chill, it would have an impact on the hydrants.

While nearby hydrants were not working, there was one fire hydrant across the street that firefighters used to get water, Mitchell said.

“They had steady water the entire time from the tanker from my understanding,” Mitchell said.

FAMILY AND SUPPORT

Born in Naperville, Loitz grew up with 11 siblings. Loitz worked at Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse in Grant Park for 28 years.

Loitz raised her family of four alongside her husband, Dale, in the house that was destroyed. She has two sons, Larry and Richard. She also has twin daughters, Debra and Diane. Her husband passed in August 2012.

Right now, Loitz is staying with her daughter, Debra, and her family after being displaced by the fire.

The day of the fire, one of the coldest days of the year, Debra insisted her mother attend her dentist appointment, driving her there that day. Ann found out shortly after her arrival, while in the dentist chair, about the fire burning down her house.

Richard Loitz recalls seeing two-thirds of the house burned down by the time he got there. He saw flames coming up from the back of the house.

Throughout everything, her family has been there for her.

“If it wasn’t for my kids, I don’t know what I would do,” Loitz said, trying to hold back tears. “Thank God I wasn’t home. I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

WORDS OF ADVICE

For anyone that experiences of a house fire, Loitz has some words of advice.

“If there’s a fire, don’t try to go back in. Just save yourself,” she said. “That’s the most important thing. Other things mean a lot, but they always can be replaced.”

She also suggests making copies of everything and to take pictures in every room of the house, including the bathroom, inside of drawers, the garage and entrances to the home. Then it’s important to put the pictures in a safe place.

During this time close to the holidays, having a fire is even harder, and it hurts, Loitz said. But she does plan to celebrate Christmas at her daughter’s house along with her family.

“Don’t take anything for granted,” she said. “The little things mean the most. The best thing is God and your family, and that’s all you need. I’ve got my family and I’m thankful for that.”

To help Ann, donations can be made at Midland States Bank at 951 Dixie Highway in Beecher, or by bringing a check to any Midland branch with “Ann Loitz” in the memo line. You can also donate to the GoFundMe titled “Bring some cheer to Ann Loitz This Christmas” at gofundme.com/f/bring-hope-to-ann-loitz-this-christmas.

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