After family loses everything in fire, communities rally

In one night, everything was gone.

Princes Lakes resident Krystal Smith recalled the phone call she got on Feb. 13 from her brother, Aaron Smith. The house her family lived in—the house her mother bought more than 20 years ago to raise her family in—was up in flames.

By the time the smoke cleared, 12 people spanning three generations were homeless. The Smith family lost prized possessions, such as years worth of photos, jewelry and college mementos, all of their clothing and most of their pets.

Almost everyone in the house had pets. Among them were cats, dogs and turtles. At least twelve cats and six dogs died in the fire. Others were still missing Friday, Smith said. In the end, they found just four dogs alive.

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“When the fire broke out, (me), my mom and one of my brothers were on our way to Franklin,” Krystal Smith said. “We got the phone call the house was on fire; we had to turn around and head back. I just remember me and my mom screaming, trying to make sure everyone was out of the house. We’ve lost pets … We were trying to make sure at least all the people were out.”

The first call came into the Nineveh Fire Department at 8:01 p.m.: a large structure fire with explosions. Firefighters were on the scene within five minutes, said Adam Ford, a lieutenant at the Nineveh Fire Department. They stayed until about midnight. The Cordry-Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department stayed later, continuing to battle the blaze until almost 2 a.m.

The fire was still burning the next morning.

Members of the Trafalgar and Brown County (Nashville) volunteer fire departments also assisted, fighting the flames that collapsed the 3,800-square-foot home.

After the fire, Kimberly Smith, Krystal’s sister, set up a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise some money to cover expenses in the aftermath of the deadly fire that left nothing but debris in its wake. Within a week, it raised almost $4,000 of its $5,000 goal, thanks to 69 contributors, as of Friday.

“They only have what they were wearing when they ran as the fire went up in a matter of seconds. On top of all this, my mom lost her job back in October and barely survived Christmas,” the GoFundMe page reads.

“My mom is the kindest soul you will meet. She always takes anyone in and would give her shirt on her back to you if you needed it. She’s also too proud to ask for help and never wants to be a burden to anyone.”

Matriarch Nova Smith, who grew up in Franklin, got cash contributions from individuals and churches there, while other people gave gift cards, Krystal Smith said.

Still, more financial contributions are needed as they start to pick up the pieces.

Krystal Smith believes the fire was caused by a leaking propane tank, she said.

While the family is hopeful its insurance will cover the cost of its next home, they’re left wondering how they’re going to cover daily expenses, such as food, clothing and gas, which is needed to travel back and forth to feed the farm animals on the property and get children back and forth from Sprunica Elementary School in Nineveh. Former residents of the house are now staying with various family members in Johnson and Bartholomew counties, she said.

Krystal Smith is staying at her other sister’s home in Columbus, she said.

“A lot of it is paying for groceries now, to keep us going,” Smith said. “A lot of it is to help with my sister’s home: food, toiletries, we’ve been trying to provide so she doesn’t have the whole burden herself.”

When Smith’s parents bought the home in 1999 in the 9100 block on Nineveh Road, it was a two bedroom house. They built onto the home over the years, eventually turning it into a much larger house with seven bedrooms, Smith said.

Although they’ll never get back that home, Smith is pleased with the support the family has gotten from the community, she said.

“It’s going pretty well,” Smith said. “We’re getting close to the goal here but we can always use an extra boost.”

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To donate, visit the family’s GoFundMe page: https://bit.ly/2HIyZNR

Anyone interested in donating items or gift cards can contact Krystal Smith at 317-494-8766 to organize a drop-off.

The Hamblen Township Volunteer Fire Department can also be a donation drop-off site, but firefighters are usually there only on Saturdays. Anyone interested in bringing donations to the fire department, 4650 Sweetwater Trail, Nineveh, can schedule a time to do so on Saturdays by calling 317-494-8766.

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