Once-blind grandma grateful to see fire

CLAYTON, Ind. (WISH) - Flames forced six families from their homes early Wednesday morning in the Hendrick Counts town of Clayton.

Nine area fire departments were called in to douse the flames that quickly spread in the mobile home park.

Despite the destruction, one grandmother at the mobile home park said she is grateful.

“I was thankful I could see what was happening — and I just stood and watched,” said Sandie Winkler, fighting back tears.

She was also thankful for her neighbor.

“Someone came pounding on my door and said, ‘Get out cause there's a fire in the shed beside your home.’ Thank god we have good neighbors,” she said.

She gave even more thanks that her granddaughter and her fiancée woke up in time to get Winkler and her 13-year-old grandson and two dogs and a cat out in time.

Until less than a month ago, Winkler was blind.

“I've been blind for three years and I just had my eye surgery in May and one in June,” said Winkler. “I've been working to sort out things to get things back in order from being blind. I was thankful I could see what was happening.”

Winkler said she's very upset that she lost all her pots and pans. She has a family reunion this weekend that now she can't cook for, but she thinks her family will understand.

The American Red Cross was on the scene Wednesday morning to get emergency needs taken care of.