Fire Leaves Lord’s Bank Family Homeless
A family in Lord’s Bank, Ladyville has been displaced after a fire swept through their wooden bungalow house. Despite efforts by the fire department to extinguish the blaze, it quickly spread, destroying the house and its contents and killing the family’s pet. Doran Russell and family left their home minutes before it went up in flames on Monday night. Russell says that there was a threat of arson. Duane Moody has a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Doran and Sheena Russell and their three daughters—ages six, four and two—remain without a roof over their heads after the wooden structure, they once called home, was destroyed by fire. Sometime after eight on Monday night, the house, located on Edwin Parks Avenue in Lord’s Bank, was consumed by flames. The family had just left home when they were told the terrible news. By the time of their return, nothing could have been saved.
Doran Russell
Doran Russell, Homeowner
“We just went to the shop around the lane to buy some food from the food spot. About fifteen minutes or so, somebody came rushing towards us and told us how our house is on fire and so. We took the kids and so and we left the house locked up in here and dog, everything; all the stuff in the house, everything for my kids. I lost my TV, my bed, my clothes, my laptop…my sound system because I usually go and DJ for parties and so. Everything burn…my dog in the house…everything. My stove and everything I lose; I noh even have clothes.”
But the house had no electricity and the family says they used battery-powered lamps and florescent lights to keep the house lit.
Duane Moody
“When you left, did you guys leave anything on that could have possibly started the fire?”
Doran Russell
“No sir, we don’t even have current.”
Duane Moody
“So what do you believe happened?”
Doran Russell
“I think somebody come and burn our house.”
Duane Moody
“Is it possible that a candle was left on?”
Doran Russell
“We don’t use candle. We use the electric light with the batteries. So we don’t use candles.”
Duane Moody
“Why would anyone want to burn down your house?”
Doran Russell
“I don’t have the slightest idea because I don’t do nothing to nobody. I try to live an honest life, try to provide for my kids; do what I have to do to take care of them. I don’t know why somebody would want to do this.”
But was the fire in fact a case of arson? Several months ago, the family received a threat from someone in the area. It was that the house would be set on fire. Fast track to May twenty-fifth and that threat would become a reality.
Doran Russell
“Some guys actually come and stone my house one day and threatened that they would burn the house. Yeah.”
Duane Moody
“When did this happen?”
Doran Russell
“Couple months aback, but I neva tek the guys the, seriously and think they woulda come and do something like that and knowing that my kids are here.”
The physical damage, according to Doran, is about twenty-five thousand dollars for the house and its contents. But the loss is even greater because the family dog perished in the fire; Doran says he also has to provide for his wife and kids.
Doran Russell
“I noh even know weh I sleep last night. I have to sleep dah wah neighbor’s house. I noh even got nowhere to sleep, my kids don’t even got no clothes; nowhere to go.”
Duane Moody
“So what now? what’s the next step?”
Doran Russell
“I have to try do something mien cause I can’t have my kids at someone else’s house because you know somebody don’t want you at their house for long. Anything could work mien cause right now we really in a bad state. My kids don’t even have no clothes, nothing. I don’t even have no food…everything left in the house. All the school supplies, everything gone for the kids: school bags, tennis, everything.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
If anyone would like to assist the family, you can reach Doran Russell at 667-3066 or his brother-in-law, Alonzo Pineda Junior, at 664-2270.
