Fire displaces family of six: clothes, shoes needed
A family of six lost their house and all their belongings Wednesday afternoon to a house fire at 2445 Oak Street near Pavonia Road in northern Richland County.
Thursday, Franklin Township fire Chief Randy Washburn said the house is a total loss. The mother Ashley Tolliver, does not have insurance, he said.
"The (state) fire marshal said the cause of the fire is undetermined, but they are unable to rule out possible electrical activity on the deck," Washburn said.
The fire at the two-story house was reported at 2:05 p.m.
Washburn said the family did lose three dogs after a family member was unsuccessful in their attempt to get the animals outside.
A GoFundMe fundraiser is being organized by Caira Bullis.
"My family and I had a house fire and we aren’t sure what caused it yet. My mom Ashley Tolliver had just arrived back to my house seeing the smoke and fire started on the porch. My sister, me and my son were upstairs in the house when I started smelling the smoke and knew something was wrong. I walked down stairs and seen the fire traveling towards me from the porch window and I had my son in my hands, I wasn’t able to grab my dogs in time to get out. I had just made it out of my window safe and my house was gone. We lost everything we had worked for and had. My family needs as much help as you can. we appreciate it all," the post said.
Mutual aid was provided by Madison, Mifflin-Richland County, Savannah Volunteer Fire Company and Monroe-Lucas fire departments. Washburn said 43,350 gallons of water was used at the scene.
The Red Cross is assisting the family.
How to help
The Franklin Township Fire Department at 505 Boyce Road, Shelby, is among the sites offering a drop-off point for items for family members, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Washburn said.
Here are some of the items listed as needed by the family:
Female, age 17: Size 12-13 jeans, large leggings, medium to large tops; shoe size 9.5;
Female, age 16: Size 6 jeans, medium leggings, small tops, shoe size 8.5;
Male, age 14: 2XL shirts, XL-XXL bottom, shoe size 13;
Male, age 38: 34/30 jeans, large shirts, shoe size 10.5;
Female, age 35: Size 9/10 jeans, medium to large tops, shoe size 8.5;
Baby boy, age 2 months: 0-3 month clothes, size 1 diapers, Similac soy formula.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: A house fire Wednesday at 2445 Oak St. is reported a total loss.
