Lloyed Call - Messenger photo
Manti 1st Ward members spend a Saturday fixing, cleaning, and repairing the trailer home that will become the home for Sarah Murphy

Effort afoot to help fire victim
By Suzanne Dean
2-15-06

CHESTER—“I should have died with her.”
Six weeks ago, that comment to a visitor just about summed up Sandra Murphy’s outlook on life.
Shortly before Christmas, fire ravaged the single-wide trailer in Chester where Murphy, 60, lived with her mother, Tonie Stulce, 79. Later, Stulce died in the burn unit at the University of Utah Medical Center.
But now, Murphy has new hope. Wayde Austad of Manti, the visitor who felt impressed to drop by Murphy’s property, is trying to marshal a countywide effort to help her. And people are responding.
The first step is cleaning up Murphy’s 5-acre plot, which has been in her family for a couple of generations.
On Tuesday, Austad, who is owner of Temple View Resort in Manti and was recently elected as vice president of the new Manti Chamber of Commerce, took Murphy to Richfield where she will stay temporarily while volunteers work to provide a new home for her.
Meanwhile, Austad has put out a call for volunteers on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., at the property. It is located one-quarter of a mile north of the Chester junction toward Moroni.
Lloyed Call - Messenger photo
Sarah Murphy

Besides cleaning up fire wreckage, volunteers will remove debris and old vehicles, and repair water, septic and power systems. They will also repair fencing for horses, goats and other animals. Everyone is welcome, Austad says. “Large equipment and hauling trucks are needed, but more importantly, many hands.”
The next step is moving another single-wide trailer that was abandoned at Temple Hill Resort to Murphy’s land. Last week, about 40 youth and adults from the Manti 1st Ward worked on the trailer. Students from Snow College are scheduled to work on it tomorrow.
When, several weeks ago, Austad visited Murphy to tell her about plans to bring her another trailer, she told him she doubted he could get approval because the county no longer allows single-wides outside of mobile home parks.
But at a meeting Tuesday, Feb. 2, after a 90-minute discussion, the Sanpete County Commission made an exception. After Austad argued that he was merely proposing to replace what had previously existed, the commission granted a conditional use permit allowing the single-wide trailer for one year. After the year elapses, the commission said, Murphy can apply for a three-year renewal.
But Austad and commissioners agreed that what she really needs is a permanent home. That’s Step Three. The whole county will need to come together to achieve the goal, Austad says, but he wants to build a small house on Murphy’s land.
An account, called the Sarah Murphy Account, has been set up at Zion’s Bank. After hearing Murphy’s plight, Commissioner Bruce Blackham offered to make the first $500 donation.
When Murphy heard about the county commission vote, she threw her arms around Austad and said, “I need a fresh start. Thank you.”
The whole devastating chain of events started Dec. 19 when a fire in a wood stove inside the trailer got out of control.
Murphy was out getting money out of the bank for Christmas. She returned to find the trailer on fire. With the help of an acquaintance who was living in a separate mobile home on the property, she pulled her mother out of the unit. But her purse containing the cash from the bank went up in the flames.
Her mother was diabetic, had had both legs amputated, and was in a wheelchair. (When Austad visited after the fire, her mother’s wheelchair was still parked in front of the burned out trailer.)
While firefighters from Moroni and other towns fought the blaze, Murphy and her mother were taken to Sanpete Valley Hospital. Murphy was treated for burns on her hands. Her mother was flown to the University Medical Center. Several days later, according to Austad, Murphy had to make the decision to remove her mother from life support.
Murphy lost virtually everything she owned in the fire, and she has no insurance. Bishop Edwin Sunderland of the Sanpitch Ward brought her a camper, where she was living until she temporarily relocated to Richfield.
If you can help with any of the phases of providing a new home for Sarah Murphy, or for more information, contact Austad in Manti at 835-2267.
His email address is camp[at]templehillrv.com.