LONG NECK, Del.- One day after the fire, the upstairs apartment has ruined clothes and furniture.
On Wednesday, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company received a call at 11:52 A.M. to respond to the Lingo Creek Apartments. When they arrived a fire at the outside of the building was starting to ease up thanks to sprinklers in the apartment but the damage had already been done. Chief Hayden Klingler explained the approach once firefighters arrived to the scene.
"We did fight it from the outside," Klingler said. "We laid a line in, which is normal for us to lay the line. Brought the inch to three-quarter around, knocked the fire that was outside. Crew went inside to look for the fire and found just a little bit up in the attic area."
No one was hurt. But, the apartment on the bottom level suffered water damage leaving a mother and three kids unable to go back inside.
The hardships for the other family of six have piled up over the last year and a half. It started with twin sister Lydia who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 6. One month later, father Tony was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer which has since progressed to stage 4 terminal cancer. Youngest son Tae is turning ten years old on Christmas Eve.
Family friend April OConnor used to live in the complex and is finding ways for more people to help.
"They need hope," OConnor said. "They've been through a lot. They need miracles and love and materialistic things. They need clothes, they need toys, they need shelter most importantly."
The family is staying in a hotel at this time. They had a second fire in a different apartment in the same complex about five years ago.
Right next door from the apartment complex, the CHEER Center is accepting donations for both families. These donations can come in the form of money, clothing, anything that you are willing to give to support them in this tough time.
Director Donna Hitchens was in the center when the fire broke out and describes how quickly the community has responded.
"This morning we get here at 8 o'clock and donations have been coming in nonstop and it's making my heart smile," Hitchens said. "I even had to cry because it's like, oh my God all of this is happening for these families."
Hitchens says donations can be dropped off at the CHEER Center during operating hours and they will not stop any from coming in. The state fire marshal is still investigating the cause of the fire.
Visit the GoFundMe page to donate money to the McCray family.
Â
Â
Â
