Family Dealing with House Fire
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Updated: 4:47 PM Jul 31, 2008
Family Dealing with House Fire
Stuarts Draft, Va.
A Stuarts Draft family of five is homeless after their house burned to the ground Sunday.
Posted: 6:36 PM Jul 28, 2008
Reporter: Philip Townsend
Email Address: ptownsend@whsv.com
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A Stuarts Draft family of five is homeless after their house burned to the ground Sunday.

Derek and Crystal Richardson can hardly find the words to describe losing their home. A blazing fire consumed the home on the 1000 block of Howardsville Turnpike in a matter of minutes.

Derek says, "It's still hard to sit there and watch everything that you have worked so hard for go up in smoke in a matter of ten to 20 minutes."

The family left the house Sunday evening with the house safely intact. When they returned, their home was completely engulfed in flames.

Crystal says, "There are no words, you just have to stand there and watch it. I mean all five of us came out alive that's the main thing."

The Richardsons say family and neighbors have offered all the help they can to get them back on their feet.

Crystal adds, "The whole community has pulled together and they're working with us and making sure we have a place to stay and that we have food and clothes."

While the family is thankful they are safe, they realize getting things back to normal will take some time.

Crystal says, "We have to take one day at a time and one step at a time."

The Richardsons and their three children were not at home when the fire started. Their dog was in the house, but he was fortunately outside and is safe as well.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.


Latest Comments

Posted by: cathy Location: waynesboro on Jul 29, 2008 at 03:40 PM

please email me and let me know what all the family needs. i knew the family and i want to help as much as i can. please email me the size of clothes that everyone wears. i want to support the family all the way. when i heared about it i was in tears and couldn't belive that it had happen. please email everything that i can do. thanks
Posted by: Amy Hensley Location: Port Republic VA on Jul 29, 2008 at 02:57 PM

Please email contact info where clothing and household goods can get left for this family.
Posted by: AShlee Smith Location: Reno, NV on Jul 29, 2008 at 10:30 AM

9 year old Ashlee founder of AShlee's Toy Closet would like to send the children toys. She collects and distributes toys to children that have been affected by fires and other disasters. She recently passed out toys to hundreds of children in California. Please have the family contact our email and we will send toys out ASAP.
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