A Curl Thompson street family lost everything in a fire. It happened early yesterday morning after 1:00 in the Jane Usher Area. Shantel Smith and her 14 year old brother were asleep inside the house when he alerted Smith to the fire. They ran out just in time, unharmed but they had to watch their home go up in flames. Today we spoke to a neighbor whose home was minimally damaged by the fire.
Dorian Cardenes, Neighbor
"After 1 o' clock I woke up and I saw flames in the sky through the window and then have the neighbor called the fire department, but it took a little while but they came. They came late when the house already burnt down."
Reporter
"So your house got damaged as well right?"
Dorian Cardenes, Neighbor
"Yes, it cracked the plycem. About 3 houses would have been burnt down if the fire trucks didn't come."
Reporter
"You know the people who lives in this house? Any kids were in there?"
Dorian Cardenes, Neighbor
"A kid and a female."
Reporter
"How did they manage to get out of the house?"
Dorian Cardenes, Neighbor
"Her brother woke her up. Because she was sleeping."
Reporter
"They didn't mentioned to you what might have caused the fire?"
Dorian Cardenes, Neighbor
"No."
Four persons live at the house. Shantel Smith and her little brother as well as Kendra Smith and her 2 year old baby. Kendra and her baby were not inside the house at the time. When we spoke to Kendra via phone this evening she told us that they were out all day looking for assistance from Red Cross and Human Development. Kendra told us that she believes this was arson, not an electrical problem. She says someone lit her room on fire thinking she was inside. Kendra says this may be related to a recent altercation she had with others. She says someone was threatening her and she reported it to the police. When we spoke to the fire chief today, he said he didn't have any information on the fire as yet. If you would like to help the Smith's you can call 632-2626.
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