Fire displaces Marysville family, but doesn't ruin Christmas

Dec. 24--Standing across the street as firefighters cut a hole in the roof of the home she owned for just 14 months, Shonda Dupree was a rock amid the smoke and chaos.

She called family members, who were supposed to arrive in a few hours to open the presents stacked under the Christmas tree in the living room, and told them Christmas Eve plans had to change, her Marysville home was on fire.

The important things were safe -- and that's all that matters to Dupree. Everything else is just stuff, she said. It can be replaced.

"Honestly, I'm blessed my granddaughter is safe, my daughter is safe and I'm safe," said Dupree, who had just gotten out of the shower when she smelled smoke in her home in the 2100 block of Covillaud Street at about 10:55 a.m. Thursday.

She checked the kitchen and did not see anything when someone knocked on the door and said, "Your house is on fire." Dupree ran to get her daughter, Trinity Collosi, and 11-day-old grand daughter, Camilla Collosi, and went outside to see a fire in the attic.

The fire was quickly contained, but the smoke, and the hole cut in the roof, will displace the family. Dupree said she has homeowners insurance.

Dupree did smile when a stream of firefighters from the Marysville, Linda and Yuba City fire departments emerged from the house with armloads of rescued Christmas presents and loaded them into the truck of a family friend, Margaret Hart.

At least Christmas could continue at another location.

"There is no stress, life is good," Dupree said. "Things happen for a reason, even if I don't know what it is here, yet."

CONTACT Reporter Kirk Barron at 749-4796.

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