Crystal Lakes, Mo (January 10, 2025) – A devastating house fire occurred early this morning on Cheyenne Drive, displacing the Hubbard-Loftis family and leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The fire broke out at approximately 3:00 a.m. after a wood stove caught fire. Despite the best efforts of responding fire departments, the family’s home was a total loss.
Emergency response was complicated by icy road conditions, making it difficult for fire trucks to safely reach the scene. Firefighters from Wood Heights, Lawson, Holt, Lathrop, and Kearney responded to the call, with Wood Heights deploying their bush truck to combat the blaze. The Excelsior Springs Fire Department was unable to assist due to multiple simultaneous calls for service within Excelsior Springs.
Thankfully, the family and their pets escaped unharmed. However, two cats—a black cat and a calico—ran from the scene during the chaos and have not been seen since. Community members are urged to keep an eye out for the missing cats and report any sightings.
In the wake of this tragic event, the family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help rebuild their lives. Donations will go toward replacing essential items lost in the fire and securing temporary housing. Community support will be crucial in helping them navigate this difficult time.
To contribute, please visit the family’s GoFundMe page. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference as the family works to recover from this heartbreaking loss.
Neighbors and friends are also encouraged to share any updates about the missing cats and to spread the word about the GoFundMe campaign. For those wishing to assist in other ways, donations of clothing and shoes are now being accepted to support the Hubbard-Loftis family during this difficult time.
Specifically, they are in need of men’s pants size 32/32, joggers or shorts size 3X, men’s size 13 shoes, boy/men’s shirts size large, women’s shirts size large, and women’s shoes size 10. Donations can be dropped off at the Lawson Fire Department located at 402 E 6th St, Lawson, MO, or at the Lawson Review Office at 405 N Pennsylvania Ave, Lawson, MO.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Excelsior Springs Fire Department responded to the fire. The fire was fought by crews from Wood Heights, Lawson, Holt, Lathrop, and Kearney.
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