Kevin's Fire Recovery

This past Sunday, June 26th 2016 about 9 am our dad woke up to his house on fire. Dad always sleeps late and is hard to wake. His dog Kaylee was outside on the front porch. Kaylee did what loving dogs do and protected our father. She barked and barked unlike her usual self. We can only contribute that to the fact she knew there was a fire before Dad did. Kaylee did everything she could to wake up our dad. "I am pretty sure that Kaylee woke me up because otherwise I wouldn't have got out alive" as Dad said. Kevin woke to see flames above his bedroom door. In a wake-up panic with the smoke and the flames at the top of his bedroom door he did what we all in a normal state know not to do and opened the bedroom door thinking he could put out the fire himself. Immediately he realized that was not a good choice! Once the door was opened the flames and smoke consumed the bedroom to the point Dad could not see anything. 3 weeks proir to this our Dad had put the AC window unit in his bedroom window, he framed it in and decided not to nail it in since it fit pretty tight already like that....Thank the Good Lord because he most definitely would not have escaped had he nailed it in! He tried to bust out the top of the window but that wasn't working. In an adrenaline rush he tried to kick out the AC unit and that wasn't working so he pulled and pulled on it and it finally broke free literally just in time. Our Dad escaped out the window as the bedroom was filled with smoke with flames shooting out the window just seconds later, with minor injuries considering. Dad managed to get to his car in his underwear watching his home and everything he owned go up in flames. Thanks to his wonderful neighbor that thought Dad was still in the house he ran injured to save Dad. While he was trying to save Dad, so was Kaylee. Once the neighbor found Kevin safe and out of the house, he went back to save the other animals that were in danger by ripping up the fence out of the ground. His other neighbor Roger ran over with clothes to put on. The fire department was there instantly. Once a modular home starts there isn't much anyone can do to save it. I got the "call' and jumped in my car in a panic. I  could see the black smoke from 46/Spring Branch road, 5 miles away.  I managed to make it there and in a panic tried to find where he was. I was so relieved to see our father alive and in person. I sat there with my father and watched the home we grew up in  engulfed in flames, burn to the ground and there was nothing we could do. I called my brother in tears whom was at work 20 miles away and he was devestated, not only was his childhood home burning to the ground, he wasn't with his family while it was happening. 

This is a huge devastating loss for my father, brother and I. We moved into that house when I was 6, Alex was still a baby back in '96-'97 I believe. That house has been in our family for 20 years. That house was our whole childhood, filled with all the items  from our childhood that we have now lost. All we have now are memories and some pictures that somehow did not burn at all. Our dad has lost EVERYTHING, the house was a total loss. He has to start completely over now. The home didn't have insurance due to medical issues and problems with the insurance company. 

Since that morning we have had an outpour of help and Prayers from people we don't even know, even when we tried to keep this quiet and off of social media due to shock. The neighborhood has come together and started getting together what the immediate necessities are, clothes, shoes, some cash to get by for a bit. We are eternally greatful for everyone of you!

We have managed through some family to get a dumpster to the property and have some wonderful friends and family  be there for the start of the clean up. We don't know where we would be without the help and sanity right now. We also have someone that might be able to lend Dad a travel trailer to stay in on the propery while we gather ourselves, clean up and figure out the next step. 

We already have a great start on clean up but it will be a long process. Red Cross has been out to help and gave us some great information to rebuild Dad's life. 

I think Dad, Kaylee, Alex and I are still in shock and kind of lost but we can see hope thanks to all that have put their thoughts, prayers, gifts, donations and daily effort into rebuilding an entire life. We are beyond words grateful for the love and support we have already recieved. 

Any dollar amount, prayer and share will help at this point. Please email me or contact any of us for other items that may be needed during clean up.  

We as a family would like to Thank you all in advance for all your thoughts, concerns, donations and prayers.