Tipped kerosene heater leaves Canton family homeless for holidays
The blaze ripped through her garage, destroying the vehicle inside and two parked outside before it began to spread through the home she shared with her father, fiance and two children.
Firefighters called at
Investigators believe the fire was caused by a kerosene heater that had tipped over in the garage, said Capt.
It was the first of four blazes
The fires affected at least 11 homes, including
Firefighters continued to investigate those fires on Monday and they asked that anyone with information call investigators at the
They know what caused the first fire, the one on
Claw home
Jessica Claw said two cats - Ace, 12 years old, and Kilo, 4 - died in the blaze that destroyed her family's home.
Recovering from a surgery, she had just laid down to take a nap as her fiance
Claw said he came into the home, talked to their son a few minutes and then started to address the laundry. When he and his son headed for the basement for a workout session, Weisser noticed a light flickering in the garage. He opened the door and, "That whole corner of the house was on fire," Claw said.
Weisser tried to put it out with about three buckets of water before he realized his efforts were in vain, she said, adding that she alerted her father and the teens that the house was on fire.
"I (saw) it from the kitchen and ran and got my dad out of his bedroom," she said. "Thomas was trying to throw buckets of water on it to put it out. After his third bucket, he knew it wasn't going out."
But her father and Weisser kept reentering the home. Claw said her father was trying to get to his car keys and his wallet.
"Thomas had to run back in and get him out again," she said.
Claw said she watched as firefighters struggled to save the home where she lived since her parents' divorce 27 years ago.
"The fire spread through the house and the soot.. It melted everything."
Assistance
The
"We've called the homeless hotline,
Plain Local Schools stepped up, and the
Claw said her father's mortgage company also provided for enough insurance to cover the structural damage and her father wants the house rebuilt, although their belongings were not covered.
"So now it's just a process of finding somewhere to live until then," she said.
Claw said she wants to find a place that will keep her children in the
"I couldn't have asked for such unity! They brought us food and clothes."
The family still has to pay the mortgage on the burned home, Claw said, adding that her father is retired, and that she and her fiance are currently unemployed.
"Now it's just a struggle of finding where to stay. Because of COVID, no one's moving or doing anything. We're trying to find a range that's in our budget. To find something around
The family will be able to stay in the hotel through Christmas.
But come Sunday, "We don't know yet," she said.
"I just have faith in God and he's been showing me miracles. I know we currently don't have a place to live, but I know He's going to find us something."
Claw asked that anyone with information about a potential temporary home contact her via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Tipped kerosene heater leaves
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