Help Jim and Rita Pedigo After House Fire

Yesterday, December 30, at 12:07pm, a substitute mail carrier smelled smoke coming from my parents' house when he entered their enclosed porch to deliver some junk mail (thanks, Ron Estes!). My dad was at work and my mom was in Topeka, visiting relatives for the day. At 12:09, the mail carrier woke the napping neighbor, DeeAnne, who called 911 and my dad. At 12:17, firefighters were on the scene. DeeAnne alerted them that there were two dogs and two cats inside the house. Another neighbor, Jose, called my dad, as well, and Dad left work and called my mom in Topeka.

The firefighters were able to rescue both dogs, Chief and Chester, and gave oxygen on site to one of the cats, Callie. The other cat, 16-year-old Sammy, was found deceased in the middle bedroom, next to the kitchen, where the fire began.

It is believed that one of the cats may have accidentally turned on a stove burner, which caught fire to a reusable grocery bag that had been set aside from Christmas.

My parents are staying with Jacquelyn, for the time being. Chester and Callie have already incurred nearly $5,000 in emergency medical bills, getting IV fluids and oxygen treatments, along with 24-hours of monitoring, but are home and expected to be okay. Chief seems to be alright, as he was found under the bed in the master bedroom, as far from the smoke and flames as he could get.

Many have reached out, asking if they can do anything to help. The hope is that homeowner's insurance will cover the medical bills, but we won't know much of anything until they come out on Tuesday, after the New Year holiday. My mom is funny about the things she is upset about losing (four 12-packs of Dr. Pepper, for one), but so grateful that no one was hurt. Any help with grocery gift cards, restaurant gift cards, or monetary donations would be graciously accepted. Thank you, all!