Friends, family, neighbors and members of the community, quickly responded to the aid of FishHawk Ranch residents John and Melissa Watson, following a fire that destroyed the couple’s home on Monday, December 12, 2011.
Arriving on the scene, at around 7:30 p.m., Hillsborough County Fire Rescue personnel found the home located at 6160 Kiteridge Drive in Lithia completely engulfed in flames.
“I just put the girls to bed and noticed that it smelled like something was burning,” John said, a firefighter with the Tampa Fire Department. “Within second the entire upstairs was in flames and I knew we had to get out.”
While everyone, including the children, Abbie, 3, and Riley, 6, as well as the family pet got out safe, the Watson’s had lost everything.
“We got out with only the close on our back,” Melissa said. “There were a few pictures and a couple of smaller items that we were able to salvage after the fire was out, but everything else is gone.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
As help from neighbors and friends are pouring in, the Watson’s remain in desperate need of support.
To help, visit www.watsonfamilyhome.com or call Kelly Rowjohn at 813-655-9985.
