Four families displaced after an apartment fire in Franklin

Posted: Jun 11, 2012 8:55 PM by Elizabeth Hill
Updated: Jun 11, 2012 10:54 PM

Brooklyn Jones was up early Sunday morning when she heard a loud boom.

"I smelled like a funny smell and came out side and smelled a smoky smell like something was burning.

That's when she noticed the roof was on fire. She quickly grabbed her three children and husband and got out of the apartment.

"I went knocking on my neighbor's doors and telling everybody to get out because there was a fire."

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze quickly and residents from all four units were able to get out safely. Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois credits Jones and her husband for their quick thinking.

"He was quick on his feet to get everybody out and that saved somebody from getting hurt or even dying in the fire.

Firefirghters say the blaze was sparked by a strike of lightening, but what they're not sure about is whether it struck the tree or the roof.

"We don't know if it hit the tree first and the tree ignited the building or hit the building and ignited the tree."

Jones says she and her family and neighbors may be out of their homes, but they're lucky to be alive.

"We all have our lives, I mean material things can be replaced."

The community is sponsoring a benefit dinner on June 15 for the familes. Anyone interested in donating or buying a dinner should contact Teakie at (337)940-1901. The dinner will be $7.00 and will consist of redbeans, rice, baked chicken, green salad, cake, bread and a soda.

If you want to donate clothes, the sizes are as follows: 12 month clothes(female) shoe sz. 5, 3t(female) size 8, 5t(male) size 13, 7 junior(female), 9 shoes(female), Medium shirt(female), 3X (male), ...36-38 pants(male), shoes 12 men. The second family sizes are as follows: XL shirt (female), 16 pants (female), shoe size 9 1/2 (female), Male sizes are 5X shirts, Medium, XL shirts, 30 inch, 32 inch, 36 inch, 42 inch, shoe sizes are 12 shoes. Medium dresses, 8 (female) Misses, 10 1/2 shoes (male),and 8 1/2 shoes (female). The third family sizes are: size 10 (female), Large shirt (female), size 9 shoes, children sizes 7(female) size 12 shoes, size 12 (male) and shoe size 5. The fourth family involved in the fire needs the following sizes: Size 36 pants, 2Xshirts, and size 12 shoes. Personal hygiene items such as deodorant, soap, towels, etc. are needed. If you need to drop off something or need it picked up, contact Patricia at 337-940-1901.