'God made sure I wasn't in the fire'

By Eloria Newell James, community@leadercall.com

August 19, 2008 09:24 am

— After a Saturday night fire, Stephanie McCullum worked Monday to get her life together again.
No one was injured in an apartment fire at 715 Rose Ave., but McCullum and her family lost all their belongings and the place they once called home.
“I had surgery on my hand and arm Thursday and I got out of the hospital on Friday. Then, my house burned up on Saturday,” McCullum said as she looked at the damaged clothes and belongings. “I just don’t know what’s in this stuff I can save.”
McCullum — who lived at the apartment with her 10-year-old son and 15 and 18 year old daughters — said she is just thankful that no one was at home when the fire began about 8 p.m. Saturday in an upstairs bedroom.
“I need all the help I can get,” McCullum said. “I lost everything. I couldn’t hardly salvage anything.”
The fire reportedly caused major damage to the Laurel Housing Authority’s apartment that McCullum lived in and required McCullum, her family and other families in that building to be temporarily relocated.
Laurel Housing Authority Executive Director Kay Guy said Monday that thanks to the hard work of the members of the Laurel Fire Department that the apartment fire was contained in the one apartment in the four-plex building in the West Beacon Street homes.
“The fire was confined to that one unit, but of course it affected the entire building,” Guy said. “Because of the situation, we made arrangements for all four families to be temporarily relocated.”
Guy said because the fire occurred on the weekend, it took officials a little time to get the building inspected and cleared for re-occupancy.
Guy said McCullum and her family were being relocated to another similar apartment Monday and the other three families were being allowed to return to their homes.
Nicole Collier, McCullum’s sister, along with other friends helped McCullum Monday to try and salvage some of her things and get them to her new residence.
“She lost just about everything,” Collier said. “We are just trying to help her see what can be saved.”
McCullum said the past few days have been tough.
“I haven’t slept since the fire,” McCullum said. “I’m usually in the house asleep, but this time I wasn’t. ... God made sure I wasn’t in the fire.”
McCullum said she and her family had just left the house about an hour before the fire occurred.
Guy said the Housing Authority relocated all the families temporarily for safety reasons.
“For safety reasons we wanted to make sure everything was okay with the electricity and the building,” Guy said. “We relocated them to just make sure it was safe for them to be there.
“Our main concern is for the safety of our residents,” she said. “The buildings can be repaired. ... We were really, really blessed that no one was injured.”
Guy said the building was inspected on Monday and the other three families are being allowed to return to their homes. Meanwhile, McCullum and her family and friends are working to get McCullum relocated to an apartment on Roberts Street.
“They have inspected the building. We will also have the city inspector to come and inspect those three apartments for those families,” Guy explained. “Since there is a vacancy, we will relocate Ms. McCullum.”
McCullum said she is grateful to have a place to live. Now, she will just have to try to get her “life back together.”
“We ask for their thoughts, prayers and any assistance they can give her,” Collier said. “It’s just a tough time. ... Everything they had received water and/or smoke damage and the beds are gone.”
Anyone desiring to help McCullum can call (601) 470-4491.

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