Fire destroys garage, firefighters save cabin in Sunrise Beach

SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. — The Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District received a call at 4:40 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 to a cabin and garage fire at the Bill and Sharon Rockley residence off of Lake Road 5-35 on Barberton Drive.

According to Sharon Rockley, she awoke at her usual time, heard an explosion, and looked out to see a fire raging by their attached cabin and garage. She immediately called 911. She woke her husband Bill and he began moving vehicles away from the fire, including a motorhome, a work truck, and a car.

When the firefighters arrived on the scene, they found a significant fire in the garage and the flames were working their way into the cabin. Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Fire Chief Dennis Reilly said the cause of the explosion was most likely due to magnesium and gasoline in the garage. “A lot of people have those kinds of explosive liquids in their garage,” Chief Reilly said.

The garage was engulfed in fire. Firefighters were able to drop the attached cabin ceiling and cut the fire off. The garage was a complete loss before the fire was extinguished. The cabin was saved, but sustained smoke damage. No one was occupying the cabin at the time of the fire.

“They could have easily lost both the cabin and the garage and the fire could have spread to the main house,” Chief Reilly said. He believes the fire was accidental; a routine investigation is pending.

The Rockleys expressed their thankfulness to God that they, their house, vehicles, animals and land remain untouched. “As I stood in my home, I realized what could have happened. When you see the flames, and feel the tremendous heat and see the destruction a fire does, it is overwhelming. Later, as I stood in the water-soaked debris, I was overwhelmed and saddened by the thought of people who have lost everything to fire,” Sharon Rockley said.

She continued, “I have such a respect for our firefighters. Thank you to our fire department for the quick response. The Sunrise Beach Fire Department was there very quickly and they were professional and so very kind and thoughtful the entire time.”

Chief Reilly concurred, “My hats go off to my firefighters. The three firefighters that were there first did the lion’s share themselves. What they did with three people is what I am used to doing back east with 12.”

“Because the firefighters contained the fire in the garage, a 40-year Christmas decoration collection, a box of family photos and more survived,” Rockley said. “Many precious and irreplaceable family heirlooms were lost in the garage. But in light of what could have happened, we are so blessed.”

Fifteen firefighters responded with six pieces of equipment. Mutual aid was provided by Gravois Fire and Mid County Fire Protection Districts.