Status: 27.10.2023, 18:48 PM
By: Thomas Zimmerly
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Charred walls, the barn a field of rubble, the company cars completely burned out: Stefan Keller points to what was his family's small kingdom in the centre of Sulzemoos before the fire. © Farewell
The Kellers from Sulzemoos have nothing left. "Not even a toothbrush," says Joana Keller (36). She, her husband Stefan (38) and their two sons (4 and 7) have only had themselves since the devastating fire on the night of Thursday, October 19, when their house and barn went up in flames. And dog Mailo, whom Joana was just able to heave over the garden fence. And their cat, which they brought to safety in a borrowed laundry basket.
Sulzemoos – It's a normal evening at the Keller family's house. 22.30 p.m. The two boys have been lying in bed and sleeping for a long time. Mother Joana was just about to do the same, lying on the sofa. The only person who is really alert is father Stefan, who suddenly hears loud noises, thinks, "someone is cleaning something up", and just takes a look. "When I opened the door, it was just light," he recalls. "It was clear to me that it was burning. But I didn't think it was so bad."
No wonder, Stefan Keller is standing under the canopy and can't see exactly that his barn next to the house is already ablaze. It is only when his father, who lives in the house across the street, calls and shouts into the phone: "Make sure you get out!" that the situation suddenly becomes clear to him.
Meanwhile, Joana Keller fetches the boys and the dog, Stefan's father the cat. Barefoot, in pajamas and a T-shirt, the Kellers make their way to safety. "I went to the neighbors. Then I saw that our house was also on fire," says the 36-year-old. Out of the corner of her eye, she recognizes another neighbor standing there with the garden hose in his hand and wants to extinguish the fire. Admittedly, this is a pointless undertaking, because in the following minutes the largest fire spreads because the community of 3000 souls has ever seen.
The Kellers and their immediate neighbours are taken to the town hall by the arriving emergency services and provided with food and drinks. "Neighbours gave us shoes, and the children got something to wear," says Joana Keller. Friends later take them to Sittenbach, where they stay in Joana's mother's house. In the hours that followed, the fire brigade managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings in the densely built-up town centre.
The next morning, the Kellers return to Sulzemoos. "The worst moment was when we walked past the house again," says mother Joana. The Kellers had built it in 2016. Now they are looking at charred walls. The barn in which Stefan Keller, who runs an electrical business together with a partner, stored the material, a pile of rubble. Four company cars parked in front of it were completely burned out.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. But the Kellers don't care. "We are now trying to get back to normal life," says mother Joana. "It's important that the children find their way back into everyday life."
But the images from the night of the fire remain in my mind. "We realize at five o'clock in the evening that we haven't eaten anything today," says the 36-year-old. "Or I wake up in the middle of the night and think I still have to get the cake I baked for kindergarten out of the house." Surreal.
The Kellers also still have the man with the garden hose in mind. As pointless as his action may seem, it is one thing: a symbol of the incredible willingness to help that the people in the village, but also far beyond, have shown to this day.
Great helpfulness
The day after the fire, the Kellers are already "quickly and well supplied" with things, says father Stefan. In addition, there are many monetary donations. "It's hard to put into words," Joana adds. "It brings tears to your eyes when you see that there are people you know who you don't have a lot of money. This gives us the strength and courage to get through the whole thing." And Stefan adds: "Maybe we'll be able to build a house again." Until further notice, the family lives in the attic in Stefan's father's house.
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The Kellers are overwhelmed by the willingness to help and are very, very grateful. "I also noticed how large our circle of acquaintances is," says Stefan. "And how everyone helps together," says Joana. "Of course," adds Stefan Keller, "we're not broke. We didn't have any money lying around at home." And his business with nine employees continues to run – not least because three cars were spared from the fire. But it's only "little by little that you realize what we had and what is missing now," says the 38-year-old. And this is by no means just a toothbrush.