Electrical malfunction likely in Millsap fire

Chris Agee CNHI The Weatherford Democrat Mon Sep 26, 2011, 08:00 AM CDT

MILLSAP — Authorities say the cause of a fire that destroyed a home on Gholson Road in Millsap Sept. 17, was likely electrical in nature.

According to Parker County Fire Marshal Shawn Scott, the responding fire investigator noticed significant electrical failures during his inspection of the scene.

The fire destroyed the home despite a quick response by several agencies and exacerbated an already bad situation for Amanda Kiles-Williams, a resident who was seriously injured in a head-on collision two days earlier.

Close friend Megan Brock said Kiles-Williams, who was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth following the wreck near mile marker 402 on the south service road of Interstate 20, is doing better and has been moved from intensive care to a unit for critical, but stable patients.

Kiles-Williams still does not know about the fire that destroyed the home she shared with her brother and teenaged son, Brock said, but she continues to show physical signs of improvement.

According to Brock, doctors are hopeful a femur surgery performed Wednesday will be successful, though they expect her recovery will take between eight months and a year.

Whether Kiles-Williams will fully recover is difficult to predict, Brock said, adding in addition to the femur surgery, she also underwent a procedure to repair her pelvis with a metal plate.

Brock described her as alert, but confused, noting she does remember part of the wreck.

Her breathing tube has been removed and she smiles and communicates with family members and friends at her bedside, according to Brock.

If anyone can come out of such a difficult situation with a positive attitude, it would be Kiles-Williams, Brock said.

She maintains an unwavering faith in God and an ability to make others laugh in almost any situation, her friend said, often saying in the most trying times, “It’s OK, God’s going to take care of me.”

“I can here her saying that now,” Brock said.

Two faint bright spots are evident through these disastrous circumstances, which Brock feels will help Kiles-Williams through her protracted recovery.

First, in addition to the safety of her son and brother, her dog was discovered unharmed nearby, Brock said, adding the canine was an important part of Kiles-Williams’ life.

Additionally, Brock said another recent Millsap fire prompted Kiles-Williams to spend a few days in Weatherford and, before leaving, she stored all her important photographs in the trunk of her car.

For some reason, the pictures were never removed from their location in the car, she added, so the irreplaceable photographs were among the only possessions Kiles-Williams did not lose in the fire.

An aunt and uncle of Kiles-Williams offered to provide a home in Cool for the family rent-free until January, Brock said, but there is still a significant financial need for both escalating medical costs and the property destroyed in the fire.

Brock, who works for IntegraCare in Mineral Wells, said the home health provider is planning a garage sale Oct. 15, the proceeds from which will benefit Kiles-Williams and her son.

Anyone interested in donating items for the sale are encouraged to do so by visiting IntegraCare, 937 FM Road 1821, Suite A, in Mineral Wells, Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Financial donations are also appreciated, Brock said, and a fund designated for Kiles-Williams has been established at First National Bank of Santo, adding donations can be made at the bank’s Millsap, Santo and Cool branches.

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