Fire guts family home

In the wee hours of Saturday morning when 22-year-old Tori Fullwood heard a commotion outside her window, she thought her neighbours were in a brawl.

Little did she know that the uproar was from passers-by banging on the grille to alert those inside that a fire was engulfing the five-bedroom family house in Time and Patience, St Catherine.

"When I look out through the window, I saw fire and people running up and down. The only thing I could do was rush to the room where my sister and brothers were and try to get them out," Fullwood told THE STAR.

When the news team contacted the Linstead Fire Station yesterday to enquire about the cause of the blaze, the news team was told that the investigators were not in.

In the meantime, the 10 members of the household now have to be staying in different locations.

"I'm away from my mother, brothers, and I'm currently staying at one of my friend's house. My brothers have to be staying next door in an empty house, they are even on the ground sleeping," she said. "My cousins are all crying and are very traumatised as well. They have to be all over the place, staying with friends. It just depressing."

Fullwood said everything that they wanted for their comfort was destroyed in the fire.

"My church family is the one that has taken us under their wings, given us food, encouragement and just helped us to see the positive side of things right now," she said tearfully.

Religious beliefs

Fullwood said that despite their religious beliefs, the family was looking forward to the new year and to making strides towards a better life.

"We don't celebrate Christmas as Jehovah's Witnesses, but we were getting our place together. We just tile the kitchen and were trying to fix up the house so we can feel comfortable for the year ahead," she said. "But everything gone. We are at square one now. Even my sewing machine that I just got to start my own little business burn out and trust me, it breaks my heart."

Fullwood, however, thanked God that no one was killed in the blaze.

"My mother is stressed out and crying, but I tell her it will be all right because we have life," said Fullwood. "I just need all the help I can get because my family needs it, but I have to say, we have been getting a lot of support so far."

Anyone willing to assist Fullwood and her family may contact her at (876) 470-5596 or donate to account No. 836043 in the name Tori Fullwood at the Linstead branch of Scotiabank, or GoFundMe, https://www.gofundme.com/f/rising-from-the-ashes-rebuilding-after-a-fire.