Saturday, May 22, 2010
Family Escapes Blaze, In Need Of Assistance
A family of nine escaped their burning home Saturday morning without harm and they have not one, but three heroes to thank.
Emergency units were dispatched to a structure fire at the 302 South Military Avenue home of Paul and Rebecca McNeal just after 8:00 a.m. The source of the fire, said Lawrenceburg Fire Department Investigator Shayne Adams, appeared to be inside the front bedroom, occupied by youngsters.
One child had apparently awakened before the rest of his family and began playing with a cigarette lighter. The paper he burned apparently ignited a blaze inside the bedroom closet which quickly spread to the bedroom itself.
Six-year-old Price ran through the house, alerting his family members to the fire. Around the same time Lawrenceburg Police Department K-9 Officer Blake Grooms, one of the first on the scene, ran into the burning home to alert family members, as well. In the end he was able to grab two of the children inside and take them to safety. “He saved two of my babies,” said mom Rebecca McNeal, “There’s no doubt about that.”
Once the family assembled outside the home, they realized that the youngest, two-year-old Neveah, was still inside. Police officers rushed inside to search. As a result one suffered smoke inhalation and had to be transported to Crockett Hospital for treatment.
Despite the fact that the family had been warned not to re-enter the burning structure, thirteen-year-old Sierra ran to the rear of the home, entered through the back door, and quickly located Neveah. She then carried her to safety.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and made quick work of containing the blaze. The actual fire was contained to the one bedroom. The remainder of the home, however, sustained heavy smoke and water damage.
The children’s room was a complete loss, including all their clothes, shoes, toys, furniture and bedding. Most cloth-type items throughout the home sustained smoke and water damage as well.
Although the family has insurance to cover most repair costs, they have an immediate need for clothing, shoes, bedding, mattresses, couch, etc. The following is a list of the family members and clothing sizes. They youngsters are in need of shoes, as well, however Mom Rebecca said it would probably be easiest at this point to donate flip flops, etc. To donate items or for additional information you may contact them at 201-7061.
*Paul (adult male) – size 40-38 pants, 2x shirts
*Rebecca (adult female) – size 5 pants, Large Tops
*Lieshia (14, female) – size 9 pants, Medium shirt
*Sierra (13, female) – size 15 pants, XL shirt
*Joshua (8, male) – size 7T
*Price (6, mlae) – size 6T
*Asia (4, female) – size 4T
*Paul Calvin (3, male) – size 3T
*Neveah (2, female) – 2/3T
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