
Recovery after home fire takes everything from a TX family
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On Jan 12th 2025, three of my 4 children and myself started our Sunday morning like normal. We went grocery shopping for the next week, took my 12 yr old to softball evaluations, and came home to start dinner. My 7yr old son let out our 2 fur babies, and started his bath time routine while my 18yr old and 12 yr old daughters started on chicken strips and tator tots. The next day, Jan 13th would be my 39th birthday, so we decided to make brownies as well. Skylar (18yr old) put some butter on to melt in the microwave, as she pushed start, all the lights in the kitchen pulsed and made a really strange sound. I immediately unplugged the microwave thinking it had cause the issue. Skylar went through the dining room to her room making sure everything else was ok. On her way back through the houae, she smelled SMOKE coming from the livingroom. She looked in and saw fire coming out of the electrical socked where our 75 gallon fish tank was plugged up. Skylar hollered, Mom fire. I ran over to see what she was talking about and saw the fire climbing up the livingroom wall. My first thought was electrical fire, do not use water and trailers go up fast so get out. I hollered EVERYONE GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. Bailey (12yrs old) immediately ran to the bathroom to get Brayden (7yr old). Skylar ran to her room to grab her wallet and phone. I ran back into the livingroom to look for my phone so I could call 911. It wasn't where I normally have it charging, so I heading out to the garage with my babies. Brayden enjoys watching videos on his phone while bathing, so as Bailey evacuated him from the bathtub, he grabbed his phone. I used his phone to call 911 as I loaded the kids up in my truck. Realizing I didn't grab my keys, and that Brayden was sitting in the truck shivering with nothing but a towel rapped around him, Skylar and myself went back into the house. At this point the livingroom room was burning pretty badly and smoke was bellowing throughout the 4bed 2 bath home. Skylar ran to my room to grab Brayden some clothes and I went back into the livingroom looking again for my phone. Still not seeing it, I grabbed my purse with truck keys inside, ran back to my truck threw it in reverse and got it far from the house. My husband and oldest son (20yr old) were in Tennessee working on the recovery efforts for North Carolina, so my husband's truck was still at home. It was backed up against our garage and all I could think is that I needed to find the keys and save his truck. Skylar said we forgot to turn the stove off, and in our panic we were not thinking clearly. We both went back into the house AGAIN. At this point, black smoke was coming out of the roof and any other place it could find to escape. We go in, turn the stove off and look for the other truck keys. I know now they were hanging in their normal spot but in the moment, I could not think straight. We leave the kitchen and retreat to the garage. I keep saying I have to save your dad's truck. As I am about to go BACK into the house, my 2 huge dogs come into the garage and my female, Lisa Marie runs in the house and into my bedroom. Skylar was about to run in after her when we see the fire coming from the livingroom into my bedroom. I tell her NO we cant go back in. Then my male dog attempts to run in, but I was able to wrap my arms around him and get him to run towards my truck. Skylar runs out of the garage around to our back patio sliding glass doors. I was so afraid she was going in after Lisa, I just screamed SKYLAR NO. She threw open the glass door, burning curtains blowing at her face and said Im leaving it open so Lisa can get out. We both ran to my truck where I find my phone had been left from our earlier outings. As I throw my truck in drive, I call my husband and oldest son, having to tell them our home is up in flames. That night at 5:30pm my little south Texas family of 6 lost everything including our beloved Lisa Marie. Our community has been amazing with getting us clothes, food, and many prayers. We are currently staying in a small camper that will not be able to sustain long term and are desperately wanting to get into another home. Because of the rural area we live in and the home being a trailer, I was denied rental insurance many times over the last few years so we do not have that to fall back on. We are asking for help to raise the money for a down-payment on a home. I have seen this platform and social media do amazing things, so I am hoping for the same to happen to my little family. I do have videos and pictures up on Tik tok (nina.falina) about the fire and an article was written in the local newspaper if you would like to know more or follow along on our journey.
Organizer
Nina Payton
Organizer
La Ward, TX