Fire Forces Family of 10 Out of Home

(Memphis) Fire investigators are looking into what started a fire that forced 10 south Memphians out of their home.

No one was inside the house Saturday night when the fire broke out, but the four adults and six children living there are now getting help from the Red Cross.

“It looks like some type of horror movie to me, you could do a horror movie in there” said Martina Johnson as she looked at looks at what now is a burnt skeleton of her mother’s home and the house she grew up in.

Johnson’s family lived at the house on Hewlett for nearly 50 years.

“That was the living room and the kitchen, now its just one big room.” she pointed out to News Channel 3.

Saturday, her family was at a cookout when a neighbor called to say the family’s home was on fire.

Everyone rushed over.

Johnson watched as flames and smoke devoured the house, leaving only a few things, like a dress that was getting passed down to one of her nieces.

“It hurts.  We can’t be here no more, it’s gone now, everything is gone.” said Johnson.

But even though the home is now destroyed, with almost everything inside charred, Johnson says, she’s grateful her family wasn’t hurt.

“I’m very thankful, they have their lives. They just have to pick up the pieces and move on.” expressed Johnson.

Firefighter’s haven’t said if there was a working smoking detector in the home.

They are urging everyone to install a working one in their home. You can apply for a free smoke detector by contacting the Fire Museum of Memphis at (901) 636-5650.