Earle comes together after house fire

Local woman overwhelmed by community support

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Residents of Crittenden county witnessed the Spirit of Christmas in many forms last month from various toy drives to food donations and everything in between, but perhaps none were so personal or as the community effort to ensure one local woman from Earle and her family were not only able to celebrate Christmas, but also to rebuild after a devastating _re took everything form them on December 18.

“I was just getting ready for bed and I couldn’t sleep for some reason,” says the 38-year-old lifelong Earle resident who her asked for her name to be omitted from this article, “That is when I looked out my window and saw a reection of light and realized it was ames coming from above. The roof was on _re.”

The Earle woman says she immediately dashed downstairs while calling 911 and rushed her six children, the youngest only six years old, out of the house and placed them in the car for safety. It was about 11 p.m. and a friend just happened to be walking past and saw the ames.

“We rushed back inside to get my dog and her new litter of puppies and also attempted to throw water up to the roof. I knew it was too late when I saw the bathroom ceiling melting. We went back outside and making sure all of the children and puppies were accounted for, then sat and watched the house burn.”

Fire_ghters from both Parkin and Earle arrived on scene and extinguished the _re in around four hours. While no injuries were reported, but the family had lost all of their belongings, their home and one vehicle. The woman, who is a home care specialist, say the response from the community was immediate.

“During the _re people got clothes and blankets for us to keep warm.” she says, “The Mayor and Chief of Police of Earle paid for us to stay in a hotel for a few days and during that time donations came pouring in from people and businesses. Everything from food, clothing, to even furniture. A lady from the school district found an apartment for us a few days later. Others called with words of encouragement and offers to help. It was all overwhelming.”

The local woman says that they spent Christmas at her mother’s house and that while the kids appear to be _ne, they are still adjusting. As for what she lost in the _re that was most import to her she says “photos”. Anyone wishing to help or donate may do so by contacting Earle City Hall at (870) 792-7300. She says she is currently most in need of a refrigerator, a dryer and food.

An Earle woman and her children lost everything after a devastating fire.

Submitted photo