Former Rombauer School building destroyed by fire

Fire victim Teresa Ward is advising everyone to appreciate what they have today, because it could be gone tomorrow.

Teresa and her husband, Charles, lost their home of 20 years, the former Rombauer School, to fire Wednesday afternoon.

Teresa believed the fire might have been started either because of an electrical issue or lightning.

“I heard a big pop and I went outside,” she said. “I thought somebody was outside making noise and nobody was out there. I went back in and the power started going goofy. I looked outside and I thought it was a storm, but it was smoking. The building was encased with smoke.”

Butler County firefighters responded about 1:29 p.m. Wednesday to 4075 County Road 569 to a structure fire in the former Rombauer school building.

The building was constructed in 1945 and, according to Teresa, “Nobody would insure it.”

According to county fire report, the building was fully involved when fire crews arrived. The seven firefighters used four trucks spent and three hours and 35 minute at the scene, along with 8,000 gallons of water.

When firefighters arrived, the Wards were outside the structure.

“Somebody’s always got it worse, you know,” she said. “My husband’s alive. I’m alive. That’s the most important thing.”

The family lived at the school for about 20 years.

“My husband owned the building for over 30 years,” she said.

The former school gym was a repair shop named Charlie’s Trucks and Trailers, but has been shut down quite a few years due to illness.

Teresa explained, “It was a full shop. All kinds of equipment, welders and tools. He had probably about five toolboxes. There’s a lifetime, he worked on semi trucks and trailers his whole life.”

There was a four bedroom apartment and the rest of the classrooms were used for storage.

“I did flea markets on the side,” she said. “We used it for different storage. I had a lot of antiques in there and it was our savings account. We always had that to rely on if anything went south. My son had stuff stored there.”

Teresa continued Thursday afternoon, “We lost a lot. I lost my vehicle in the garage. We lost the boat in the garage. My husband’s motorcycle. The Lincoln outside got scorched. We just lost everything. I’m hoping it will cool off so I may be able to save my titles. It’s still burning; still on fire.“

She explained the family had “lived in one classroom until we turned it into an apartment. My kids were raised there. My kids are grown.

“We lost everything. My husband lost everything in the shop. Our whole life was in there. It’s all gone. I lost two dogs. I couldn’t get them out.”

Choking up, Teresa described them as mixed breeds. They were “my babies,” she said.

“We don’t have anywhere to live. My son, Jarret Ward, lives down the road. So we stayed with him last night.”

Their daughters are Jennifer and Jasmine.

Anyone who would like to donate to the Wards may contact the Star FCE Club president at 573-718-9482.

Charles wears 38/30 jeans and extra large shirts. Teresa wears extra large tops and 14/16 pants and size 7 1/2 shoes.