Family loses all

Published 10:06 pm Tuesday, December 20, 2005

The victims of an early-afternoon mobile-home fire on Monday are living in a hotel today, courtesy of the American Red Cross.

Pam Lynn, her grandson and her disabled father moved into a Cullman hotel Monday night after a fire destroyed their mobile home located at 670 County Rd. 1127 near West Point.

According to Chief Buddy Carden of the Bethsadia Volunteer Fire Department, the home was a total loss despite emergency crews from West Point, Bethsadia and Jones Chapel responding to fight the blaze.

The two-bedroom structure was reportedly engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived at approximately 1 p.m.

“It was a total loss,” said Carden.

According to Lynn, the fire originated from a bedroom space heater and spread rapidly throughout the house when her 3-year-old grandson opened the bedroom door to retrieve his toys.

“I guess it gave it more oxygen,” said Lynn. “We saw smoke coming out of the door and then it just erupted. It was really scary.”

According to Lynn’s brother Brian Abbott, who was also living in the home, Lynn, her grandson and her disabled father were all home at the time of the incident.

“She had time to get my dad and her grandson out and by that time, the whole thing was engulfed,” said Abbott, who was staying with friends Monday night.

“All I can tell you is that I’ve lost everything,” Lynn said.

According to Abbott, firefighters were unable to save the house because the fire had moved under the floor and could not be doused.

“They said there wasn’t anything they could do, and it was better to just let it burn,” Abbott said.

Lynn said the Red Cross gave her a Wal-Mart gift card with $300 for clothes and $120 for groceries. The emergency relief organization is also paying for her hotel for three nights.

“That’s not much for Christmas,” said Lynn. “There was nothing saved.”

Lynn said that she had just finished her Christmas shopping, and all of the presents were lost, including CD players, tools, clothes and toys for her grandson.

“It could have been worse. At least we all got out,” she said.

Lynn’s 15-year-old son and estranged husband Donald Lynn, who officially owns the house, were both out of town at the time of the incident.

As of Monday night, Mrs. Lynn said that neither one was aware of the fire and that they did not have property insurance of any kind.

Abbott made a call for donations for Lynn and her family, claiming that they lived each month on her father’s social security check and would not have any kind of Christmas if not for outside help. According to Abbott, Lynn was unable to work because she cared for her father full time. Lynn reported that her father suffers from the affects of a stroke, a brain aneurysm and diabetes.

“It seems like the people that need the help can’t get it, and the people that have money and finances and are stable get more than they need,” Abbott said.

in a phone interview.

Lynn said she would like to rebuild the house if she could afford it and that she did not know where they would go once their time at the hotel was up.

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