Patricia Smith
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Have you ever stood on the lawn of a burning house with the family it belonged to as they watched the flames engulf all their belongings? Old family photographs, memoirs, clothing, shoes, birth certificates, wallets with identification, social security cards, etc.... anything that could prove their identity and their very existence, all destroyed in one swift, tragic event. It is an unforgettable and heart wrenching moment. The beginning of many moments that will be faced by the family as reality sets in from the aftermath of such a traumatic experience.
In the early hours of Monday, June 20, Terry Robinson and his fiancé Tina woke up to the smell of smoke… their home was on fire.
“My instincts kicked in,” Terry said, adding that the only way for them to escape was through a window. “I kicked out the screen and climbed through. She actually fell out,” he said, as he pointed toward Tina who was standing nearby listening to him explain their narrow escape. His meaning was she fell out of the window while trying to quickly escape.
Tina was mostly quiet from the emotional upset of the ordeal as she watched the smoke fill the sky. The couple had been planning their wedding and had lost the items that they had purchased for their big day. Terry was devastated by the loss of sentimental items that once belonged to his mother.
At approximately 12:48 a.m., JCFR Engine 1 responded to the call that the three-bedroom home, located at 590 Virginia Street, was consumed in flames. Squad 1, Rescue 36, 101, and the Monticello Volunteer Fire Department also arrived at the scene. The street was congested with emergency vehicles including Monticello’s Police Chief Fred Mosley, Duke Energy, CERT, and Jefferson County Emergency Management.
A statement released from the fire department reported that “upon arrival, the fire rescue team discovered the house was fully engulfed in flames on one side, and upon further investigation of the scene it was determined that two additional structures, a gazebo and utility shed, were also fully consumed by fire.”
Thankful to be alive and uninjured, the couple and their dog stood in a neighbor’s yard watching the firefighters spray water on what was left of their home. It was difficult to think about the harsh reality of having lost everything so suddenly. Terry was concerned about how he was going to get to work that day as he would not have the proper attire to work in. He peered down at his worn croc-style shoes, and it was at that moment, he realized his vehicle keys were in the burned rubble of the home. All he had left was the shirt on his back, a pair of shorts, and the shoes he was wearing at the time.
Many neighbors stood in their yards with saddened and worried facial expressions as they watched the Robinsons lose everything they had. Those very neighbors, friends, and even strangers in the community have already started pulling together to show support to figure out ways to help aid the family.
It took about forty minutes for fire fighters to extinguish the flames. Once the fire was out and all hotspots were cooled, JCFR Chief Burrus and Captain Flynt deemed the disastrous scene safe and fire trucks were seen leaving around 3:30 a.m. The cause of the fire was determined as “accidental in nature,” initially starting in the gazebo and rapidly spreading to the utility shed and home, destroying all three structures.
Much appreciation is owed to all the first responders who came together as a team and worked hard to try to save what was left of the Robinson's home.
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