A Chattooga County family is beginning the difficult process of rebuilding after a fire destroyed their home Sunday night in Lyerly, leaving them with little more than the clothes they were wearing when they escaped.
Jessica Smith and her boyfriend, Marcus Wedgeworth, were inside the home around 10 p.m. when Smith noticed an unusual smell and heard a clicking noise coming from the home’s electrical breaker box. After turning off the breaker, she walked toward the kitchen and discovered flames inside the residence.
All occupants were able to escape safely, but the fire quickly spread and destroyed nearly all of the family’s belongings. Clothing, debit cards, personal documents and other household items were lost in the blaze.
The fire marks the second time Smith has experienced the loss of a home to a fire, adding to the emotional toll of the incident.
Fortunately, Smith’s two children, ages 6 and 9, were spending the night away from home when the fire occurred. Family members said they are grateful the children were not inside the residence, particularly because the fire originated near the area of the home where they normally would have been sleeping.
Among the items lost were decorations and supplies recently purchased for Smith’s son’s upcoming 10th birthday celebration. Family members said weeks had been spent preparing for the event, including gathering gifts and outdoor play equipment.
Relatives have since organized a fundraiser to assist the family as they work to recover from the loss. Community members have already begun offering support and assistance to help them secure necessities and begin rebuilding.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.