February 8, 2007

Friends in need

Horsemen’s Association hosts fund-raiser for couple who
lost McKean Road home to fire on New Year’s Day

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

The Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association is planning a Feb. 17 dinner dance to raise funds for Nancy and Dave Littleton, who lost their home on McKean Road due to a fire.

Sandie Quinones saw a friend in need and helped organize the Wild Oak Fund-raiser. From left: Nancy Littleton and Quinones. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“It was on New Year’s Day,” said Nancy Littleton as she walked through the rubble of the house that she lived in for over 30 years. “Dave and I went for a walk around 3 or 4 p.m. We saw the smoke and ran for hoses as we called the fire department.”

Littleton has run the Wild Oak Ranch where she boards horses on McKean Road for years. A qualified horsewoman, she has judged equines as well as taught riding lessons and is a member of many local clubs. She even was named trainer of the year twice.

The fire started in the fireplace in the living room and the room was already engulfed in smoke when the couple discovered the fire and tried to save their home. Two neighbors came to help and then the Department of Forestry and the San Jose Fire Department responded. But it was too late. Most of the house and all its contents burned to the ground leaving only the brick fireplace where the fire started standing.

Three of the Littleton’s cats and a dog all died of smoke inhalation in the master bedroom. Photographs of the animals with their names—Miko, Biscuit, Momcat and Cookie—are displayed at the entrance of the burned house creating a memorial for the beloved pets.

The Littletons now live in a small motor home on the property near where the home they rented burned to the ground. It’s a crowded existence for the couple, several cats and four rat Terrier dogs, one which just had six puppies. Dave spends his time when he’s not working sifting through the rubble using a metal detector trying to find Nancy’s wedding rings.

“The animals keep going back to the house,” said Littleton. “I don’t know why, maybe they’re looking for my other ‘babies’ I lost in the fire. My mother’s china is gone and everything else. I don’t want to collect anything anymore.”

“I’ve learned life is fragile and things are temporary,” added Littleton.

News travels fast in the rural area and when the Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association heard of the Littleton’s plight, the group joined forces and is hosting The Wild Oak Fund-raiser at its clubhouse on Feb. 17 featuring a dinner, dance and raffle. The Littletons will be their guests and recipients of the proceeds of the fund-raiser.

“We want everyone to step up to the plate to help,” said member Sandie Quinones. “Nancy and Dave lost their pets and all their possessions in the fire. Anyone’s life can change in a heartbeat. Any help is so appreciated.”

Quinones, Jayna Burtis and Pat McAndrews are collecting donations for a raffle and are excited about a horse lamp and quarter horse wind chimes that were recently donated. Burtis has the menu planned: spaghetti, garlic bread, and all the fixings and promises that it will all be “really good.”

As for the future, the Littletons would like to buy an RV to live in and continue to board horses on the land where their house once stood.

“We are devastated beyond words,” said Littleton. “But the one thing I would tell everyone is to copy all your old photos and distribute them to family members. They are materials things that are memories that you can never replace.”

The Wild Oak Fund-raiser will be held at the Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association, 20350 McKean Rd., San Jose on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20. For tickets or to donate items, call Sandie Quinones at 927-6647 or Jayna Burtis at 972-9925. Or send a donation to Friends of Wild Oak, Account # 029132993 in care of Bank of the West--Oakridge, 908 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose, Ca. 95123.