A year later, fire victim works to build new home

GREENCASTLE >> Nearly a year ago fire destroyed Joseph Rutledge's mobile home, but his German Shepard Bella saved his life by waking him in time for them to get out.

Now, just over a week after his son's 12th birthday, Rutledge is doing everything he can to make sure they have a new home before winter.

"I'd like to give him (a home) for Christmas and his birthday, I want to say, 'here's the house, we're all done,'" Rutledge said.

At 6:15 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2013, Bella woke Rutledge by barking incessantly in his ear. It was unusual for her to act that way, and when he realized smoke was filling his home, he understood.

He grabbed some pants, went outside with Bella, and called 911. Once outside, he realized his home was billowing smoke, and after a few hours of firefighting and containment, his mobile home was destroyed.

Rutledge said getting his new home together has been an incredibly long process, that was greatly hindered by extreme cold of last winter's Polar Vortex. Once he was finally able to get his burned mobile home hauled off his lot on Warm Spring Road, he bought a broken down mobile home at an auction held by his mobile home park.

The home needed new plumbing, new electric wiring, flooring and skirting for the trailer. So far, Rutledge has been able to finish the new plumbing. But due to financial and time restrictions, he has struggled to finish the rest or the work that would make the place "livable."

Rutledge's mother, Patty Rutledge, decided to find a way to help. She has already provided a temporary home for him, Bella and hi son Joey, but she wanted to find a way to raise awareness again.

"I reached out to people personally," Patty Rutledge said. "They had heard about Joe's fire, and I told them that he was trying to get his place together... They have been really coming together to help out as much as possible."

She didn't just do a simple call, but rather decided to knock on the doors of local businesses that might be able to help out her son. A few follow up calls later, and she was able to confirm at least two businesses that were willing to help her son, all without his knowledge.

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A year later, fire victim works to build new home