Family loses all in house fire

Patsey Canterbury and her family scavenged the burned remains of their home Friday afternoon and came up with very little.

"Luckily, my bedroom was not damaged entirely and we were able to save a little paperwork and a few pictures," she said.

A blaze broke out in the house at 408 Bailey around 10:30 a.m., but luckily only one son was home and he was able to escape uninjured, she said.

Canterbury, a custodian at Sabine High School for the past 11 years, said she had just left a doctor's appointment and was on her way to work when one of her daughters called to tell her the house was on fire.

Her son had been asleep but his dog started barking, which awoke the 23-year-old.

"James saw the fire but he was able to get out through a door to the outside from the room where he was sleeping," Ms. Canterbury said. "He ran out with only his pants on — neighbors had to give him a shirt and some shoes."

Friday afternoon, Kilgore Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Dillard said the fire is still under investigation but it appeared to have been electrical and possibly started in the attic. Canterbury said the home was old, but they had no hint of an electrical problem.

By Friday evening, the family — there were seven living in the home — planned to stay with Canterbury's daughter, Cassie Rios, in Overton. After that, she isn't sure what will happen.

She had no insurance on the frame home, where she has lived for the past 16 years. Her husband has been dead for almost six years, and her mother, father and sister were killed in a car accident near Longview last year.

The fire is a devastating setback, but Canterbury said she is grateful nobody was injured. The family needs everything, from furniture and appliances to clothes. Even her new lawnmower, parked on the lawn, melted from the heat of the blaze.

She has contacted the American Red Cross for help, but was referred back to the City of Kilgore and the proper officials weren't in on Friday afternoon, which means she likely won't hear from anyone from the ARC until next week. Even then, the help will be temporary.

Anyone who wishes to help the Canterbury family can drop off donations at another daughter's home, Ruth Beall, who lives at 403 Bailey.

Family members clothing sizes are:

— Patsey, XL adult shirt, size 16 pants, size 11 shoes and socks, 40C bra, size 8 underwear;

— James, 23, XL adult shirt, pants size 34x34, size 12 shoes and socks, large underwear;

— Randy, 20, large adult shirt and underwear, pants size 36x34, size 13 or 14 shoes and socks;

— Ashley, 18, large shirt, size 15 pants, size 8 shoes, size 8 underwear, and 34C bra;

— John, 17, large shirt, size 32x34 pants, large underwear;

— Kay, 13, XL adult shirt, size 16 pants, size 11 shoes, 40C bra, size 8 underwear; and

— Adryan (18-month-old granddaughter), size 24 months shirts and pants, size 6 shoes and socks, and diapers (she is allergic to Huggies).

Also an account for the family has been established at Region's Bank and contributions may be made there.