A beloved member of the team at Forest View Farms, and his family, lost everything in a house fire Wednesday evening in Tinley Park.
TINLEY PARK, IL — A community built through a farm is rallying around one of its own, whose home was lost to a fire Wednesday evening.
Scott Wenninger—a beloved and longtime fixture at Forest View Farms in Tinley Park—was not home when his house at 167th and Lockwood went up in flames, destroying everything he owned. Wenninger lived there with son Robby and Robby's girlfriend Alyssa. Robby and Alyssa were attending a Cubs game at the time.
"It was just ablaze," said niece Lori Dellamano. "That was everything he ever had—memories, all his kids’ memories."
Wenninger is known as the farm's "go-to guy" for all repairs, maintenance and building needs, even trailer driving, hay bailing and delivery. Robby worked alongside him, as well. The home is adjacent to the farm—all livestock were accounted for and safe.
Just prior to the fire, Wenninger had left his Tinley Park home to grab dinner nearby in Oak Forest, when something told him to turn around. He rarely, if ever, went anywhere without his dogs—Lambo and Luna—but had left them behind for the quick trip.
"Something told him, 'You need to go get your dogs,'" his family told Patch. "His dogs are his world. He went back, grabbed his dogs. By the time he was paying in the drive-thru, someone said his house was on fire."
The 100-year-old house was completely engulfed, with Wenninger looking on in heartbreak. The dogs were safe, but all but one of his pet turtles perished. His cat—thought trapped inside—was later seen fleeing the home.
"He's just numb right now," Dellamano said.
Wenninger, 62, is known for his 40 years of contributions at the farm. He has pitched in any way he can at the farm, which is owned by a family member's significant other.
"Anything and everything," his family said, of what he does there. "Broken water dishes in the stalls for horses, he fixes it. Hay—he transports it. Literally everything."
The call for the fire came in around 6 p.m. Wednesday, an Oak Forest Fire Department official told Patch. Additional aid came from Markham, Midlothian, Country Club Hills, Tinley Park and Orland Park. The cause is under investigation.
Family said it's believed the fire started in the back of the house. Stunned by the blaze, Wenninger tried to save what he could.
"Scott was trying to see what he could salvage," Dellamano said. "Everything was chaos."
Dellamano, along with Wenninger's sisters, have started a GoFundMe to help Wenninger with immediate needs, but also in hopes of establishing longer term financial support. Wenninger is the designated beneficiary. A goal of $25,000 has been set.
"He is in need of everything, as the fire completely engulfed the house and took every single thing he owned and worked hard for," the fundraiser reads.
Dellamano said Wenninger is reeling from the loss, and they're hoping the fundraiser can give him a soft landing.
"You don’t even know where to start," Dellamono said. "We want to get him to where he can have some stability to rebuild."