Fire forces family of 15 from Raleigh home
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Nagi Busisou has been busy fielding calls while also trying to figure out what comes next for his family. He's father to 13 children. He and his wife have kids ranging from teenagers to 4-month-old. The entire family has been displaced after fire destroyed their home. It's the second time it went up in flames in four years.
The family was inside the home Tuesday when flames broke out.
"We just panicked and we didn't know what to do," said Busisou. "It was too smoky. I could not see all of them, but I grabbed two of them and went out. So I had to go back."
Everyone got out safely and the American Red Cross is helping with a place to stay. The family is at a hotel in Cary.
"It's difficult. We have to kind of split the adults with the other kids," he said.
The family unfortunately has been in this situation before. The Fire Marshal's Office says there have been two fires at the home on Huntingdon Drive.
In 2011, the home was gutted. It happened the day after Christmas and was ruled accidental. The family rebuilt, only to see it destroyed again.
"As you can see, it's a beautiful house. New everything and updated to code. It just happens," he said.
Busisou said he hopes to someday return to the home. He's focusing his energy now on finding a rental big enough for his brood. Even though he's stressed and upset, he's thankful.
"I can't thank God enough for being safe - me and my children," said Busisou.
Many folks above been stepping in to help the family.
Some friends spent Thursday boarding up the home to keep people from going inside and stealing anything that might be salvageable.
The family attends the Islamic Center of Raleigh and a spokesperson there says they are collecting donations for the family.
Officials are investigating the cause of Tuesday's fire.
