LEETONIA Family of nine needs a home after fire loss

The family needs everything, the Red Cross director said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- John and Cathy Bagley and their seven children are looking for a home.
Their three-story, 13-room, wooden-frame home at 125 Walnut St. was destroyed by fire May 11.
Ginger Grilli, director of the North Columbiana County American Red Cross, said the agency is seeking a large rental home for the family.
The Bagley children range in age from 6 to 22, Grilli said.
Lost everything: All of their possessions were lost. Firefighters found the family cat alive under the kitchen table.
"Clothes, beds, dishes, they will need everything," Grilli said. "We've given them some clothes and some toys. We're making a referral list, but we don't need the big items until they've found a place to live."
Grilli said the family is in transition from a motel to temporary housing. She said anyone with items to donate should call the Red Cross at (330) 332-0028.
Glen Windram, a Leetonia High School teacher, said high school and junior high students have collected money from faculty and students for the Bagleys. Five of the children attend Leetonia schools, he said.
Clothing drive: Junior high student council and adviser Pat McClun have organized a clothing drive and asked Columbiana, Crestview and Lisbon students to participate.
Clothing and monetary donations may be dropped off at the high school, he said.
Leetonia Fire Chief Ken Garlough said he does not have a loss estimate, but the house is a total loss. He believes the cause was an electrical wiring problem in the garage, where the fire began.
Firefighters were called to the scene about 5:15 p.m. Friday and found the garage and the back of the house engulfed in flames, he said.
Kids found fire: Bagley and two of the children were home at the time, Garlough said. He said the children found the fire when they went to the garage to ride their bicycles.
Garlough said about 18 firefighters were on the scene until about midnight Friday. Columbiana firefighters responded with about a dozen firefighters, he said.
Firefighters returned to the scene Saturday and again Sunday, because the fire rekindled, Garlough said.
tullis@vindy.com