UP IN SMOKE

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 5, 2009

By ROBIN SHANNON
Staff Reporter

GARYVILLE – In true River Parishes style a tight group of young men from Garyville paid tribute to five of their friends, who fell victim to a tragic boating accident, with a spectacular bonfire.

But this wasn’t just any bonfire. This was a 14-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide behemoth of a structure that took the shape the state of Louisiana.

“We usually do a regular ‘teepee’ shaped fire for New Year’s,” said Brye Roussel, one of the creators of the structure. “This year we wanted to do something different and original. That’s when we decided to dedicate it to the guys in the accident.”

The fire was built in honor of Ken Horzelski, 22, Joshua “Nutty” McNulty, 20, Patrick McTopy Jr., 23, all of LaPlace, Stanley Borne Jr., 22, of Reserve, and Chance Millet, 25, of Lutcher. The five boys suffered fatal injuries this past August when the 20-foot runabout boat they were aboard collided with a 30-foot cabin cruiser as the boats were navigating the waters of Blind River in northern St. John Parish. The tragedy, which has been dubbed one of the worst boating accidents in state history, sent shockwaves all throughout the small community where the boys grew up.

“We used to all do this fire together,” said James Johnson, another builder of the fire. “This will be the first year without them. It’s going to be weird not having them here this year.”

Johnson said he, Roussel, Roussel’s brother Ryan, Kelly Clement, Dylan Marse and Ian Melancon got together Thanksgiving week to design the fire and begin construction. The men collected firewood from Gramercy, Garyville and LaPlace to go toward construction. Johnson said the final pieces were fit into place just a few days before New Year’s Eve. Once it was lit, Johnson said it didn’t take long for the structure to become engulfed in flames.

Johnson said the New Year’s fire comes on the heels of a Christmas Eve fire that was also built in memory of the victims of the accident. He said that fire was lit by the lone survivor of the crash, 21-year-old Brandon Prudhomme, who is still recovering from the incident.

“He is progressing very well,” said Johnson’s girlfriend Kayla Fruchtnicht. “He’s able to talk more and he is continuing to get the rest of his motor skills back.”

Johnson said he hoped to see Prudhomme out to light the fire New Year’s Eve, but wasn’t sure if he would be able to make it out.

“We always think about what happened that day,” Johnson said. “It’s a reminder of how fragile life is and how all it takes is a simple accident. You just cherish everything you have.”

Johnson said the fire was ignited at exactly 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve. The earliest allowed by Parish burn permit standards.