Durham family tries to pick up the pieces after devastating fire
DURHAM (WTVD) -- A Durham mother of four is left to start over after a fire ripped through her home.
The fire happened Friday morning in their townhome in the 1300-block of Marne Avenue.
"It was a normal day," said Kaysha Tomlinson, who said she was at work when she received a call from her best friend and neighbor. "When I answered, she said 'Kaysha, your house is on fire!'"
Tomlinson rushed home to find her home in flames and smoke shooting through the roof. Thankfully, her children and her mother, who lives with them, were not inside. The family dog though, was inside.
"All I kept thinking about was Muno," said Tomlinson. "I just remember screaming his name."
Muno didn't make it and neither did most of the family's belongings. Firefighters say while they don't know the exact cause of the fire they know it started on the back porch. They confirm it was accidental in nature.
The fire ravaged the home on Friday, but Tomlinson said she actually smelled smoke the day before but thought nothing of it.
"It smelled like someone was burning wood," said Tomlinson.
That morning of the fire, Tomlinson even thought about staying home from the child care center where she works but said something told her to leave.
"When I look at it now, that was God telling me to get out of the house," she said. "Do not be here today."
Obviously upset with the loss of the family dog, Tomlinson is thankful none of her children were in the home. She had already experienced the loss of a child years ago.
"Before I had my daughter, I lost a son at just two-months-old," said Tomlinson. "I couldn't imagine having to go through that again."
To meet the Tomlinson family just days after that fire, their faith was palpable. The children were playful, everyone was smiling, just thankful to have each other.
"God has blessed me with very understanding children," said Tomlinson. "I'm very blessed and thankful that we were not home."
Now the single mom of four is trying to start over with her mother and her children; Zaniya, 12, Kaih'ron, 9, Jayeden,8, and Ahlanie, 1.
"What we have is in these bins. That's it," said Tomlinson, looking at four bins now sitting in her father's home, which is where they're staying for now.
Inside the bins are items that were donated by friends and some of the clothes they were able to salvage, and wash out the smell of smoke.
On top of raising her children, working full time, and studying early childhood education at Durham Tech, Tomlinson has to start over. Not only is she having to collect just the daily necessities lost in the fire, her father's home isn't big enough for all of them. So finding a new home is a priority.
"Everyone needs somewhere to lay their head at night. That's my biggest focus," said Tomlinson.
She also has a son with special needs and would like to stay in the same area so her children won't have to change schools.
The family has set up a GoFundMe account. There is no specific donation amount, the family only listed $1 and prayers.
"The fire may have destroyed our home, but it didn't destroy our faith. It didn't destroy our spirit. It didn't destroy our happiness," said Tomlinson.
