LOVE COUNTY, OK -- A house fire destroyed a Love County family's home and everything they had inside. With the holidays right around the corner, residents are pulling together to help the family.
A fire took over this Marietta house, leaving a husband, wife and two teenagers without their home. April Elliott can't understand why it happened.
"Shock, disbelief, lost," Elliott said.
"I mean you could rebuild it, but it just wouldn't be the same," her son Justin said.
Thackerville firefighters say the home was fully engulfed when they arrived Tuesday afternoon. They say it took about 30 minutes to control, but the flames and smoke left behind a mess and a heartbroken family who says the hardest part is...
"Learning how to start over," Elliott said.
Elliott says the home was filled with fond memories.
"My husband, it's really hard for him. This was his family's home for generations, for 50 plus years and he's had a lifetime of Christmases and Thanksgivings, loss, happiness," Elliott said.
The state fire marshall is investigating, and one Love County woman is encouraging the community to step in and help.
"I actually just got finished praying with April. She had just had surgery and she was going through some things, and I mean five minutes later she walked out of here and I got a phone call from her saying her house burned to the ground," LeAnn Hart said.
So, LeAnn Hart took to Facebook, asking people to pray for the Elliotts. In a matter of minutes, dozens wanted to help.
"I just think that it's really important right now because it is close to the holidays. Because these kids, I can't imagine what they're going to be going through right now just with the loss. It's Christmas you know," Hart said.
"I think it's great and I thank God for each and every one of them. But that's the way Love County is, every body has always pulled together in this town. That's all I've ever known," Elliott said.
If you would like to donate clothes, shoes or toiletry items to the Elliott family you can drop donations off at 407 Oak in Marietta (the rock house next to EZ Mart).
An account has been set up for the family at First National Bank under the name Thackerville Church.
Here are the family's sizes:
Justin: size 32 boys pants, large youth shirt, size 9 shoe
Destiny: size 20 pants, XXL shirt, size 9 shoe
Wendell: 40x30, 40x32 pants, XXL shirt, size 13 shoe
April: 12-14 pants, XL shirt, size 9 shoe
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