Local

Family of 6 loses almost everything in Yulee fire; community rallies around them

Much of our community is rallying around a local family of six who lost almost everything in a fire.

The mobile home on Flounder Gig Drive in Yulee is a total loss from Monday's fire.
Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Watch Action News Jax reporter Russell Colburn's live report on FOX30 at 10.

Despite what this family has lost, they’re thinking about what they still have.

Priceless photos and yearbooks were spread out on the lawn.  Shawn Burns says many were saved in a plastic bag.

“Just amazing that a Ziplock bag with pictures in it never got touched,” Burns said.

Community members dropped off supplies to help Monday evening.

A container holding Burns’ late father’s ashes, was also saved.

“The outside got damaged, but the inside still looks good,” Burns said.

Monday morning, this family was walking back to the home after taking their 10-year-old to the bus stop.

“The 16-year-old comes running out saying, ‘Hey I smell smoke! There’s something going on,’ and we run inside and at that point it was just call 911,” said Burns’ girlfriend, Jessica Yagins.  “There was no let’s try and stop it.”

TRENDING: 

Fire crews arrived and started working in minutes, but the home is a total loss.

According to the family, firefighters said the fire was electrical and not suspicious.

The family rabbit was saved, and their dog, Leia, was already out.

Burns’ mother couldn’t hold back tears thinking of the ordeal.

“I’m just thankful that they’re alive,” Wanda Spivey said.  “They could’ve been asleep. I’m just thankful that God was with them, and that they’re OK. We can replace everything, but not them.”

For information about the GoFundMe, click here.

DROP OFF DONATIONS: 
96024 Sunfish Lane
Yulee Florida 
Heron Isles Subdivision

Donations are also being received at “Crafty Kids Amelia Island” at 2188 Sadler Road in the Artisan Village.

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