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Wedding album, Bengals gear all that remains of home after explosion

A firefighter gives photographs to Tracey Idle that were salvaged from a home her mother and father-in-law's home on the 4200 block of Oxford Middletown Road after it was leveled by an explosion Friday morning, Sept. 3, in Wayne Twp. in Butler County.

Staff photo by Nick Graham A firefighter gives photographs to Tracey Idle that were salvaged from a home her mother and father-in-law's home on the 4200 block of Oxford Middletown Road after it was leveled by an explosion Friday morning, Sept. 3, in Wayne Twp. in Butler County.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Doug Idle looks at what remains of his home on the 4200 block of Oxford Middletown Road, where he lived for 18 years, after it was leveled by an explosion Friday morning, Sept. 3, in Wayne Twp. in Butler County.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Doug Idle looks at what remains of his home on the 4200 block of Oxford Middletown Road, where he lived for 18 years, after it was leveled by an explosion Friday morning, Sept. 3, in Wayne Twp. in Butler County.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer Updated 2:44 PM Saturday, September 4, 2010

WAYNE TWP. — The plan was to spend his birthday weekend at Lake Cumberland.

Donna Idle, 46, packed a few things; her 65-year-old husband, Doug, whose birthday is today, Sept. 4, brought only the clothes on his back and their 6-year-old golden retriever Hula.

With the exception of a few items, what they took with them Wednesday when they left for Kentucky is all they have left after a fire destroyed their home at 4208 Oxford Middletown Road in Wayne Twp.

The Idles, who have been married for 22 years, had lived in the home for 18 years.

“Twenty-two years worth of stuff up in smoke,” Donna Idle said.

Their home burst into flames about 9:30 a.m. Friday, apparently after a leaking propane tank under their home exploded, reducing it to rubble.

They got the news by phone early Friday that it was gone.

“When we were halfway home my son told us there was nothing left ... But we didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” Doug Idle said.

Both were still in shock Friday evening as they stood with friends and family in the driveway looking at remnants of their 1,600-square-foot brick, ranch-style home.

“We’ve been in shock since we got the call. How could something like this happen?” Donna Idle said.

The Idles take solace in the fact that no one was injured in the blaze, which was contained to their property, and in their decision to take Hula with them.

They were comforted, too, after learning a few mementos were virtually unscathed by the blaze: Donna Idle’s Cincinnati Bengals gear and their wedding album.

“Maybe this means they will have a good season this year,” she joked.

When asked her take on her wedding album being saved she grew serious. “There’s a meaning. It means something.”

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