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Brooksville home destroyed by fire
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 12:15 AM EST
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| Brooksville firefighters talked with the owner of the house and Linville family members about fire damage to the home on Garrett Avenue in Brooksville, Monday. -- Wendy Mitchell/staff |
Jennie Linville, a licensed practical nurse at Robertson County Health Care, and her teenage sons, David and Daniel Linville occupied the home, but were not there when the fire started.
Returning to a lane filled with fire apparatus, Linviille huddled out of the rain on the porch of a nearby apartment complex with her friends and family. Her grief was visible as tears filled her eyes.
"I just was in Maysville buying flooring to install in the house when we got a call that the house was on fire," said Linville. "I have a truck full of flooring right down there."
Purchasing the home on a land contract over the last two years, Linville was looking forward to possibly owning the home in a month or so. When she arrived back to find it in flames and all of the family possessions smoldering, Linville was also told this was the fourth time the home had sustained a fire over the years.
"We have put a lot into fixing it up. I never knew that; the seller never told me that," said Linville. "We lost everything in a fire many years ago when the boys were little; knowing about other fires would have made me think twice about buying it."
Despite the physical losses, Linville was relieved her pet dog had not been home at the time of the fire.
"We had dropped it off at the groomers; thank God for that. My heart would have been broken," said Linville.
Included in the loss was a computer the family had purchased a few days ago which renters insurance may cover but irreplaceable photos and family mementos were believed to be destroyed as well.
"The photos of my grandparents and the children growing up, they may all be lost. They (firefighters) won't let me in to see yet," said Linville, as Brooksville firefighters continued to ventilate the building and water down hot spots.
A cause of the fire has not yet determined.
"The only things on when we left were the computer and the drier," said David Linville. "Everything I owned was in there. Just when things were going right ... this happens."
In addition to an unknown amount of personal items, Jennie Linville also lost her nursing uniforms and all her footwear except a pair of boots.
"I am suppose to work tomorrow night, but I don't know if I can do it," said Linville, "This is just too much."
Linville's brother arrived shortly after she did and offered her a place to stay. Before the smoke stopped rolling from the attic window, co-workers at RCHC were gathering work clothes and friends were planning to find clothing for the family.
Bracken County American Red Cross coordinator Judy Cooper was also preparing vouchers for the family to help with basic necessities, Cooper said.
"Jennie is such a hard worker and she was looking forward to owning a home. This is just awful," said Cooper.
For more area news, go to http://www.maysville-online.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
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