Hamline-Midway residents rally to support neighbor with house torched by fire

The past 12 months have been difficult ones for Dawn Cockrell. Last May, her husband died suddenly from a heart attack. Three months later, a favorite dog passed on. And a few weeks ago, the home she has lived in for the past 15 years on the 1400 block of Van Buren Street was devastated by a fire. (Photo by Stefanie Berres)

By JAN WILLMS

The past 12 months have been difficult ones for Dawn Cockrell. Last May, her husband died suddenly from a heart attack. Three months later, a favorite dog passed on. And a few weeks ago, the home she has lived in for the past 15 years on the 1400 block of Van Buren Street was devastated by a fire.

But through it all, she has been able to rely on the strong support from the neighborhood she lives in.

“The fire was last Friday, right around dinner time,” related Mary Hendrickson, who lives right next door to Cockrell. “One of the tenants living upstairs noted it and contacted Dawn. She called it in to the fire department.”

Cockrell lives in a duplex and rents out the upstairs to some college students. The fire reportedly started from a cigarette butt in a garbage can on the upper back porch.

“The Fire Department said some of the materials used for insulation really caught on fire and kept smoldering,” Hendrickson said. She opened her home to Cockrell and the upstairs tenants.

“Dawn stayed here overnight,” she said, “and the tenants stayed until about 10:30 p.m. Then they stayed over with friends.” The firefighters let them back in to pick up guitars and laptops and any other valuables.

“We heard sirens again around 1:30 a.m. Saturday,” Hendrickson said. “The fire had started up again.” The Fire Department came once more, around 5:40 a.m. Sunday morning, after the fire had ignited for a third time.

“Each time it started again, there was more damage,” Hendrickson said. “There’s nothing salvageable in the whole upper unit, and there has been a lot of water and smoke damage on the main floor. But the insurance adjuster said the house definitely can be rebuilt.”

She said all the neighbors were gathered outside Cockrell’s home, wondering what they could do. An email chain was started, with people gathering any items that might be needed.

Hendrickson said that she has a daughter in a wheelchair and a partially disabled son, and her neighbors offered right away to take them for the night in case Hendrickson’s house was at all affected by the fire.

“We went into Dawn’s house late in the evening and got her clothes out and washed them,” Hendrickson said. “My brother got her car out of a snow bank and put some fluids in it.”

Hendrickson said they tried to get Cockrell a cell phone also. “The neighbors have supported her beautifully,” she said.

“I felt really bad for the international students living upstairs,” Hendrickson added. “They lost everything, and they have no family here. But everything is okay.”

She said Cockrell has been put up in a motel in Roseville by her insurance company, and will soon be moving to semi-permanent housing in Bandana Square.

“I’m hoping in the spring, as a neighborhood, we can clean up the yard and plant some grass,” Hendrickson said.

Cockrell, reached at the motel where she is temporarily staying, said she has incredibly wonderful people in her life. “I also have health issues,” she said, “and Mary has been there for me. She opened her arms to my tenants as well.”

Cockrell was able to get her current dog, Rennie, out of the house and put up at the motel. “My brother also came down for support,” she noted.

“Liberty Mutual has been such a wonderful insurance company for me,” Cockrell said. “And I’m working with Restoration Construction. The house was engulfed in flames, and they have been cleaning everything.”

Cockrell said she did note a lot of cute firemen came out to fight the fire. “You have to have a sense of humor when things like this happen,” she added.

Hendrickson said that for now, the insurance company and restoration company are working closely with Cockrell, and what she needs most from her neighbors is just knowing she has their support. Hendrickson has no doubt that support will be there.

“We have a great neighborhood, and we all know each other and all help each other out,” Hendrickson claimed.