Rebecca Conklin and family displaced after house fire in Leola

Rebecca Conklin and her family lost their Leola residence on Sunday night. The residential blaze destroyed the structure and forced the entire household to find emergency shelter. They now stay inside a nearby camper.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, fire officials said. The household lost nearly everything in the incident.

Conklin lives with her husband, Jason Populis, and their four children. She expects to deliver a newborn baby girl soon.

The family had been out fishing on Sunday. Populis noticed the active flames on the way back from the lake.

“As soon as I turned on this road down here, coming back from the lake,I seen the flames. I just had a gut feeling it was gone. We lost it all,” Populis said.

Fire crews from Leola and Prattsville responded to the scene. The teams worked together to extinguish the flames.

“My kids were in the car. And hearing them cry and scream was even worse,” Conklin said.

Community members provided the family with clothes and donations. Conklin said she is grateful her family was away when the fire started.

The family did not have homeowners insurance, Conklin said. They hope to move another trailer onto the land to rebuild.

Volunteer fire departments provide rural suppression and emergency support across town limits. Mutual aid agreements allow nearby stations to dispatch extra crews during large structural emergencies.

The family continues to prepare for the arrival of their baby in Leola. They are working to plan their recovery steps.