Fire destroys Bruce Street home of engaged couple

Dec. 08--Michael Butler and Labrina Daves and their four children, ages 9, 10, 13 and 14, were displaced from their residence after the blaze was reported at 3 p.m. Firefighters with the Lexington Fire Department arrived to find the couple's residence fully involved in flames.

The couple escaped from the residence. They conducted a brief interview with The Dispatch from a neighbor's residence.

"She just finished cooking us something to eat," Butler recalled. "I'm in the room, and she comes in the room to bring me some food. The next thing you know we started eating. We cut the TV on."

Butler and Daves heard the fire alarm. He opened the bedroom door to find smoke throughout the house.

Daves said she had everything off in the kitchen and had cleaned it up. Butler ran to the kitchen but explained he couldn't do anything because the flames were over the stove and out of control. Daves said the flames were crazy because she keeps grease in containers.

Their children were not at home at the time of the fire. Butler received a scrape to his arm while escaping through the front door. He had to slam his body through the door to get it to open.

The couple lost all of their Christmas gifts for the children, but they were thankful to be alive. They lost over $2,000 in gifts, including two Xbox One systems that were just delivered. The game systems were under the carport but also sustained damage in the blaze.

"Every time I tried to run up under there to get it, the fire was so strong," Butler said. "I couldn't understand why they put the boxes under there, why they didn't knock on the door at least. We could have turned those games in and got some money at least. All of the kids' Christmas gifts are in the closet."

The couple just moved to Lexington from New York. They don't have insurance on the residence.

Lexington Fire Commander Andy Beck said the home is a total loss. He said it took firefighters 15 minutes to get the fire under control. The American Red Cross is assisting the family with clothing and lodging. He confirmed the family lost all of their belongings.

The Lexington Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the fire, and the cause was not available Monday evening. Firefighters also haven't released where the blaze originated.

Anyone who would like to help the family can contact the couple at (336) 470-5541.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 217, or [email protected]. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick

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