The Journal

Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jamie Ford The garage of Allen's house is where the fire started and where the bulk of the damage happened. Alicia Allen's fianceé, Don Vannatta, had his BMW parked inside when the fire started.

A fire that started with a garage door opener destroyed nearly everything for graduate student Alicia Allen and her family. Allen, her fiancée, his 6-year-old son and their 4-month-old son were all in their home when it caught on fire at 8:30 p.m. March 18.


The opener to the garage door sparked and caught the wiring on fire, which spread to the attic of the 4-year-old Fenton home, according to the insurance company's report, . The fire burned for an hour before Allen's fiancée Don Vannatta looked out the window and saw the garage engulfed in flames.


"We were just sitting on the couch listening to music in the dark, like we always do, just relaxing," Allen said. "After we ran outside to see the fire I ran back in and grabbed my son and my fiancée's son. I didn't even have shoes on; none of us did."


Allen and her family lost almost all of their possessions in the fire. Their split-level home is still standing, but the inside is almost completely destroyed. She had time to run back inside the house to get her purse and rescue their dog from the basement. Allen and Vannatta both suffered from smoke inhalation and cuts on their feet from broken glass. Allen burned her hair in the fire. Her fiancée burned his hand and has endured chest pains.


Debbie West, Public Safety specialist at Webster, has worked with Allen in Public Safety for the past five years. Allen worked as a dispatcher for three years and for the past two years has worked as a receptionist at the front desk in Loretto Hall. West sent an e-mail on the Webster faculty and staff listserv asking for donations for the family. Donations are being collected in the Public Safety office in Maria Hall.


"We have a great community at Webster, everybody's so helpful," West said. "The outpouring is really good."


West said someone had donated a baby crib and other items, but the family still needs clothes, furniture, gift cards and cash.


Allen, who received a bachelor's degree in public relations last semester, is currently pursuing a master's degree in advertising and marketing.

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