Scott City Fire Victims Family Tells Story

Norma Estes and Donnie Estes on their anniversary.

On February 22, 2011, we lost three amazing people. I can't tell you everyone's perspective on that night, but I can tell you mine: The night we lost our family members was a true awakening to us that every moment is precious. I can really only tell you my perspective of it and somewhat filter in everyone else's. I was awoken by a phone at approximately 3am by a friend of mine who lived near my husband's grandmas house. I was worried she was calling about work (she and worked together at the same hotel, so it wouldn't be strange to receive a call from her in the middle of the night). She had asked me if I knew there was a fire at our grandma's house. I hadn't a clue, I thought I was still sleeping. I hung up with her, and started calling my husband and my mothernlaw. I finally got in touch with my husband, who had been with grandma at the hospital since 1am. He didn't want to wake my 7yr old daughter and I just yet because they were still searching for his sister (sometimes she went out at night) and we were hoping she was with a friend. I told him to come home and we would go look together. While waiting on him to get home, I called my friend and my sister because I wasn't sure what to do. They kept me on the phone til he got there. When he arrived, he told me everything that happened and that the fire rescuers were still searching for the bodies. Our grandma had been taken to St. Louis from St. Francis via helicopter. They couldn't find Brittany at the time, we were hoping she left early in the night with her boyfriend. My husband, my daughter, and I drove out to Oran to find her boyfriend. While he was driving, I was facebooking and texting all of her friends to see if she was with them and when they last saw her. When we got to her boyfriends house, my husband had to practically beat down the door. But Kevin, Britts boyfriend, came out alone. We knew then, but still didn't want to admit that she was gone. Kevin and my husband, Jr, both lost it. Jr and I headed back to Scott City to our mother n laws house. When we arrived, I went inside to check on her, and Jr headed down to the fire. Unfortunately, the rescuers had stopped their search for Brittany at that time, leaving my mother n law without any hope. Jr was extremely upset that the search was stopped. Brittany's boyfriend arrived at my mother n laws house not too long after I did. I remember hearing him say when he hugged her "I thought they were playing a joke on me". The police came in at that time and spoke with Kevin, after speaking with him, they went back to search. At approximately 630am, they came back to tell us they had been wrong, the first body they had pulled was Jr's 24yr old sister, Brittany. They also found his grandpa and his aunt. For a split second, I would swear if you listened close enough, it was so quiet, you would have heard us take in a deep breath. After that, I watched as my mother n law erupted into tears. She is the strongest woman I have ever known. Even now, looking back, it's still crystal clear in my head. But she had to get up to St. Louis to take care of grandma (her mom). She headed up there and we stayed back to take care of things here. My husband, his cousins (his aunt in the fire was their mom), and tons of friends started helping us to clean up what was left of the house. All the days following were a blur, we all still think so. Going through pictures, cleaning up at the site, contacting people, and hoping grandma would wake up soon. We did find some small hope a few days later, I saw something laying face down on the ground one morning, it was untouched by the fire, it was pure white. I was afraid to touch it. I hollered for our cousin to come get it. He turned it over, it was untouched pictures. Pictures were a very important thing to our grandma. We started searching for more for several days. Some pics we found burnt only at edges, some not touched at all. My mother n law really wanted Britts rings that she used to wear all the time. My husband and his freinds got down on thier hands and knees and combed through the ash with their bare hands, but never found them. It was 2-3 weeks before grandma got home from the hospital, we had been in a type of "limbo" during that time. Not a day went and still doesn't when we have to take a moment and cry. I have came across so many amazing people since all of this that have dropped everything just to help. I don't think any of us ever expected such generosity. I know that one day our family will get the chance to pay it forward. As of now, we are just hoping to relieve some of the financial burden off of our grandma and my mother n law.

Outlaw Offroad Park in Jackson, MO, will be holding the Scott City Fire Victims Family Benefit for Donnie Estes, Cheryl Talley, and Brittany Calhoun. Event will be held on Saturday, April 23rd. From 9am-10am, will be a 50/50 Easter Egg hunt for the children. There will be karaoke from 5pm - 8pm, and an auction in the evening. There is also 300 acres of trails, mud pits, drag strips, and fun! Admission is $15/per person, 10 and under are free. Located 8 miles West of Hwy 72/34 Junction. Take Hwy 34 to county road 324 (Pipeline Road) 1/2 mile to county road 316. Call Amanda at 573-225-4503 for more information.