‘It was too late’: Jefferson County family grieves loss of more than 60 animals in devastating fire
JANSEN, Neb. (KLKN) – A family is starting the journey forward after a fire scorched their house and killed dozens of their animals.
Jill and Jamie Kuzelka own Whispering Acres Tails and Treasures, which is 15 minutes west of Beatrice.
The couple saw their home of more than two decades go up in flames early Monday morning.
“She woke me up yelling, ‘The house is on fire,'” Jamie said.
Jill heard strange sounds, and when she checked in the garage, she found her worst nightmare.
Smoke had filled the space where many of their small animals lived.
Jamie tried putting out the flames in the garage, but the couple had to leave for their own survival.
The Kuzelkas left behind decades of memories in their home and escaped with only the clothes on their backs.
“It was too late,” Jill said.
Whispering Acres has dozens of animal species. The Kuzelkas own horses, a reindeer, a kangaroo, fish, tortoises and much more.
Many are used as therapy tools. Whether people have PTSD, autism, depression or any mental health disorder, they can come to the farm and heal by connecting with the animals.
The smaller animals were living in the garage.
Authorities believe an electrical accident sparked the fire, which then spread to the house.
“The grief, we haven’t been able to process that yet because I lost an awful lot of animals,” Jill said.
More than 60 animals were killed.
“Each one of them had a name, and each one had a story that came with them,” Jill said. “And that’s stuff that I can never get back.”
She said many of the animals were rescued before being brought to Whispering Acres, and it breaks her heart that they died.
The horses and other animals survived. Those that remain are giving the Kuzelkas some comfort.
The community has also stepped in to provide the couple with clothes, food, and other essentials they need to begin their recovery.
The family said it’s been those small moments of support that have carried them through the past week.
But it will not be an easy road forward. Jill said it will likely take years to rebuild.
“We’ll come back,” she said. “This isn’t the end of Whispering Acres by a long shot.”
The Kuzelkas plan to hold a memorial for the animals that were killed to bring closure and healing to the people who visited the farm.
