Six people, including two small children, escaped a house fire that destroyed their Canton Township home early Wednesday morning.
Watch Bob Jones conversation with the family:
The fire broke out just after 2 a.m. on Fields Avenue SW, forcing Sharon Williams, her husband, grandmother, mother, and Williams' two sons — ages 3 years and 3 months — to flee their home.
"We woke up to loud bangs, kind of like explosion-type sounds that we were hearing," Williams said.
"At that point, we grabbed everybody. We grabbed nothing else, and we ran out," Williams added.
The fire consumed the ranch home and nearly all of the family's belongings. Williams' grandmother had lived in the house for 30 years. Her grandfather, Terry Steiner, died a few years ago.
"The emotional ride of seeing everything that you worked hard for, and the people before us — like with my grandpa — everything that he worked hard for, just kind of go up in flames within minutes, it's an emotional turmoil," Williams said.
Nicholas Fyffe, a relative who also lived in the home a few years ago, said the family was fortunate to escape.
"It's an absolute miracle that they made it out, and that is still a wonder in my eyes on how they made it out," Fyffe said.
Despite losing most of their possessions, the family was able to salvage a few meaningful items, including some of Grandfather Steiner's favorite hats.
"There's three hats that were really important because that's what he took his wedding photos in, and everything. We got those," Fyffe said.
While the investigation continues, Canton Township Fire Chief Chris Smith believes a space heater in the garage caused the fire.
"These things, they happen quickly and you don't expect them, but when they do, they happen quickly," Smith said.
Chief Smith is urging homeowners to take precautions when using space heaters, which can be knocked over easily or placed too close to flammable materials.
"Use them in the way that they're intended as a temporary heating source in an open area, away from flammables, in a ventilated area and unplug them when you're not in the area," Smith said.
A Canton Township Fire Association group is helping the family with a $500 gift card for necessities, while community members are donating money, clothing, and other items.
"Our babies are set. They have food. They have formula. They have diapers. We are eternally grateful for the outpour and the influx of just love," Williams said.
