Laurel family loses home after weekend fire, donations needed

LAUREL, Miss. - Parts of this article is from the Jones County Volunteer Fire Department.

A family of five is homeless after their double-wide trailer home burned Saturday evening. At 6:58 p.m., units from Glade, Powers and M&M Volunteer Fire Departments, along with the requested assistance for manpower and water support from Sandersville and Ovett Volunteer Fire Departments, responded to the scene of a fully involved structure fire at 48 L. L. Strickland Road in the Glade community.

Initial firefighters on scene advised flames were showing and that the home was fully involved. Firefighters acted quickly to extinguish the blaze but unfortunately, fire had consumed most of the structure.

The eldest son, Thomas Davis said, “All I know is that I was working that night, it was a regular night, and I get a phone call from my grandmother saying that my house is on fire, and I am like really is anybody there?”

The homeowner, Chris Davis, stated that he and his family were not home when the fire started and went on a walk around 5:30 p.m.

“I am either in there taking a nap, or that baby boy he is in there watching TV, so he decided he wanted to go walking with us that evening, and he could have been very well been in there" said Davis.

Although he is unsure of the exact cause of the fire, he speculated that it may have been the result of short circuit in a light.

He also stated that when he and his family arrived at the home, the fire appeared to be underneath the home, as well as in the middle interior of the structure. He immediately ran next door to a neighbor to call 911.

“I came home and it was on fire, called the fire department, or went to the neighbors and called the fire department and we just waited and watched" said Shane Davis, 19-year-old son.

Mr. Davis stated that his home was insured but everything he owned was inside, and that he and his family were now homeless.

Thankfully, a nearby family member was able to house them for the night.

Mr. Davis was also in shock because just last week he had witnessed another home burn and called 911, never thinking that the same would happen to his home.

Mr. Davis provided contact information for anyone willing to assist his family with donations, such as clothing, food, and general necessities.

To contact Mr. Davis, please call his son Thomas at 601-335-1025.

Firefighters were on scene for about two hours extinguishing the blaze and performing overhaul operations.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.