Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 8, 1994 TAG: 9402080171
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It's just a blessing," Kelly said Monday. "If it would have been any other night, we'd have been in it."
Friday night, Starlene and Shasta were sleeping over at Starlene's mother's home in Natural Bridge.
About 1 a.m. Saturday, Joe was playing pinochleat another relative's home - which sits on an embankment above his own house - when he looked out the window and spotted the fire.
Kelly and some of his in-laws ran down to the house. At least half the vinyl-sided home was already ablaze.
They thought about using a garden hose to douse the flames, he says, "but it was no good."
They called for help. The Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department got there in time to save the family's cat, Becky Boo Boo. But the fire was too far along to save the house.
"They did everything they could," Kelly said. "It was just an old house, and it went quick. There isn't much standing."
Kelly's dog, a registered coon hound, died in the basement.
"We called him Skinny, but his real name was Gremlin," Kelly said. "I had just gotten him - I hadn't even turned in the papers yet."
The fire began around a wood stove kept in the basement workroom, Buchanan Fire Department Chief Freddie Marin said.
The house was on a private drive off Old U.S. 11 between Buchanan and Natural Bridge. It had been passed on to the Kellys from Starlene's grandmother.
It's tough losing your home - and memories. The family moved into the house soon after Shasta was born. They'd done lots of remodeling, rewiring and adding on.
Kelly, who works at Maxey Auto Tops and Interiors in Roanoke, said things are looking better now that the initial shock has lessened. It looks like insurance will cover the loss.
The family have turned their attention to finding a place to rent until they can buy or build a new house. For the time being, they're staying with Starlene's mother.
Folks in the area have pitched in with donations of clothing.
"We have plenty of clothes - and plenty of love," Kelly said.
by CNB