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6 Fires in 1 Week
12/22/09 - 04:37 PM
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Devastated families across the panhandle are picking up the pieces of their homes destroyed in fires.

The Red Cross has helped six families in one week who’ve lost their belongings to fires.  They say many of them could have been prevented.

A fire destroyed parts of the Dawkins’ home in Cottondale on Monday night.  Chad Dawkins has been cleaning up the mess all day Tuesday.

“I didn’t really grasp the situation until I came up here at daylight,” said Dawkins.

He says his 11-year old daughter is taking it the hardest.  “For her it’s pretty devastating…she said I can’t believe it happened right now right before Christmas.”

The fire started in the kitchen, claiming the walls and ceilings.  It also got to his closet where he was hiding her Christmas presents.

“I had some of her Christmas presents hid up in the shelf up there and it so happened that that wall is next to the stove and everything,” he said.

The Red Cross gives each family about $1500 dollars.  That’s about $10,000 they’ve given out in one week.

“It’s a lot of heartache on the families to wake up and find you’ve lost everything you’ve worked for all year,” said Matt Humphreys, the Director of Disaster Services of the Red Cross.

He says space heaters, Christmas tree lights, and electric blankets are the main sources of the fires they see.

“We just can’t stress enough to make sure you check the bulbs, check the plugs, if you think there is something wrong with it, don’t use it,” he said.

“It needs a lot of elbow grease and a lot of work but we can get it done,” said Dawkins.  While he knows they won’t be spending Christmas in their home like his daughter wants, he says he will work until they can get back in it.

The Red Cross provides shelter, clothing, and food for three days after fires while families get back on their feet.

The Dawkins are looking for a camper to rent while they fix their home.  You can contact the Red Cross if you want to help.