(WATHENA, Ks.) A family lost their home in a fire Saturday, Oct. 13, is picking up the remains.
The Chilcoat family lost most of their belongings and some of their pets. The fire department said the fire may have been caused by a faulty electrical outlet in the kitchen.
Homeowner Thelma Chilcoat told her story Saturday.
“I took four steps into the living room and couldn’t see anything and then I felt a burning sensation and my whole tongue was filled with smoke,” Chilcoat said. “I started getting disoriented. I didn’t know where I was. I turned around on my way to the hallway and screamed at the kids and said there was a fire.”
Mr Chilcoat said he removed the children from the house, but the pets were still inside.
“I kept trying to get back, but when I got out on the porch and looked up, there was a guy running from the other trailer court, and he ran up to me,” Chilcoat said. “He tried to run inside and I thought, ‘No, I can’t go in there.'” So I said, ‘I’m going to go to the other side where the kids are and get the dogs out. Please help me.”
Mr. Chilcoat did not know who the man who rushed to their aid was.
“The only thing I know is his name was David because their wallet was found,” Ms Chilcoat said. “He’s a hero.”
After their home was destroyed, the family spent three nights at the Motel 6 on Frederick Avenue. They received card assistance from the Red Cross that covered shopping costs and motel stays.
Today is their last day at the motel, but the family is still thinking about where they’ll live next.
“Honestly, we don’t have anywhere to go. Unfortunately, I feel like we lost a lot in the trailer and the fire,” Chilcoat said. “We lost our lives. We lost everything.”
The Chilcoat family has a GoFundMe organized by their daughter-in-law Brianna Trueblood. You can find it here.
