ACADIA PARISH — A family in Lyons Point lost their home in a fire years ago and once again this week.
Vickie James, a former firefighter for the Lyons Point Volunteer Fire Department, and his two children were sleeping inside their home Monday morning when the fire started.
"A neighbor down the road came by and notified us that the house was on fire," said James. "They saw the smoke coming from the back of the house and flames."
James and his family quickly exited the home, and within about 10 minutes, it was completely engulfed.
"There's got to be a good reason. I just can't think of it," contemplated James. "I do know from the first one, something better came out of it."
On the same property, James's family lost their first home to a fire in 1986 to which some of the family still find difficult.
"The first time, it bothered them. It still bothers them," said James. "And, this time, I've noticed it's bothering my two youngest ones more."
Despite the recent tragedy, James is concentrating on the positive, like community outreach. After the first fire, he, along with the help of others, founded the Lyons Point Volunteer Fire Department.
"Material things... we all need, but the main thing is to worry about lives and helping people," said James.
He believes the cause of the fire to be electrical. He says it started in the attic.
James is grateful for his neighbor and all of the fire agencies that assisted in putting out the fire.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the family's recovery.
