Family escapes early morning fire
Updated: January 25, 2013
DECATUR -- A family is safe after escaping an early morning fire. It started in a vacant home in the 800-block of East Williams Street just after midnight. It spread to the home next door. WCIA-3's Jillian Deam spoke with the family.
This is what Jennifer Kreher saw outside her front door.
"I mean, there was just chaos. We literally barely got out."
And this, is what's left of her home.
"Just not really sure what we're going to do next. What do you do? Where do you start?"
Jennifer and her daughter were inside the burning home. A friend was visiting with her child as well.
"I grabbed the baby, no clothes and a blanket."
"The family rushed outside and met here, out front. But, when they got together, they soon realized a part of their family was still inside the home."
"I kept asking the firefighters, 'my cat, my cat.'"
Their pet cat couldn't be found until hours later.
"This morning, we came to see, you can't see at night, and we heard him meowing and King Simba was okay."
King Simba had been hiding out in the bathroom.
"His heart is going 80-miles a minute."
While Jennifer's heart is broken by what was lost, "that's a whole lifetime," she's thankful everyone's safe.
"God had his hands on us."
Together again.
"We found the cat. He has eight more lives."
Authorities estimate damage at $26,000 to Kreher's home. The vacant house is a total loss. The cause is still under investigation.
If you would like to donate to the family:
This is what Jennifer Kreher saw outside her front door.
"I mean, there was just chaos. We literally barely got out."
And this, is what's left of her home.
"Just not really sure what we're going to do next. What do you do? Where do you start?"
Jennifer and her daughter were inside the burning home. A friend was visiting with her child as well.
"I grabbed the baby, no clothes and a blanket."
"The family rushed outside and met here, out front. But, when they got together, they soon realized a part of their family was still inside the home."
"I kept asking the firefighters, 'my cat, my cat.'"
Their pet cat couldn't be found until hours later.
"This morning, we came to see, you can't see at night, and we heard him meowing and King Simba was okay."
King Simba had been hiding out in the bathroom.
"His heart is going 80-miles a minute."
While Jennifer's heart is broken by what was lost, "that's a whole lifetime," she's thankful everyone's safe.
"God had his hands on us."
Together again.
"We found the cat. He has eight more lives."
Authorities estimate damage at $26,000 to Kreher's home. The vacant house is a total loss. The cause is still under investigation.
If you would like to donate to the family:
Monetary
donations made to:
Soy Capital
Banks : Benefit Jen Kreher
Clothes,
furniture:
Mr. John's School
of Cosmotology
1745 E.
Eldorado
Decatur (217) 423-8173
Hours: 9 - 5 p.m.
