Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Jan 23/06) - A Fort Smith homeowner says she has learned an important lesson from a November fire which gutted her house.

Edith Fisher says the loss she and her husband Vern experienced can serve as a warning to all other homeowners in Fort Smith that they must update their insurance.

Fisher says the Nov. 7 fire caused about $150,000 in damage to their mobile home and belongings.

"We lost 99 per cent of everything we own," she says.

After the fire, they discovered their insurance only covered about half of their losses. That's because property values in Fort Smith have rapidly increased in recent years.

She estimates their home was underinsured by about $70,000.

Asked how she and her husband will make up the difference, she replies: "We're going to have to work harder."

Fisher hopes a seminar can be organized in Fort Smith to educate people about the proper level of insurance required for their homes.

Fisher says she has been overwhelmed by community support since the fire.

"It's been awesome how people have stood behind us," she says.

The support has been both moral and financial, and there were donations of everything from furniture to clothing.

Fisher also has praise for the Fort Smith Volunteer Fire Department, noting they responded to the fire in minutes.

"They operated just like a big city fire department," she says.

It took five hours to put out the fire.

Looking at the mobile home now is deceptive, since the exterior is still intact.

"It's totally, totally gutted," Fisher says, adding it will be torn down.

The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical short in some old wiring.

The Fishers were not at home at the time.

Fisher says the couple is not sure what they will do to replace the house, but will probably get another mobile home.

Fisher, 58, works as a care aide at Northern Lights Special Care Home, while her 66-year-old husband is retired.

They are currently living in Sunset Chalet, a seniors' apartment building.