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Neighborhood news

Neighbors rally to family's aid after house fire

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published January 12, 2007

Paulette Green spent the Friday after Christmas at home. She cleaned. She worked on plans for her wedding in August. Her fiance showed up with her Christmas gift: a car.

Her two teenage sons watched TV with her sister's five kids. One of them, 8-year-old Randall, showed off his favorite new toy, a truck that lit up and played techno music.

Green and her fiance, Michael Reed, left for 45 minutes to get food at Popeye's for the kids. Then, Green's cell phone rang.

"Mom," said her 16-year-old son Jeremy. "The garage is on fire."

Her son sounded nonchalant. "Get the fire extinguisher out," Green told him.

Then, his voice changed. "Momma, hurry up, the house is on fire!"

Green and Reed raced home and saw smoke as they neared the house on 1519 E Diana St. Then, they saw it: "The house was in flames," Green said. The kids and the family dog stood outside, watching it burn. "Everything I owned."

Firefighters said the fire started in the electrical box in the garage.

Green and her kids had lived in that house for 10 years. She had thought about refinancing it to pay for the wedding.

The boys lost their Little League trophies, shoes and school books. She lost most of her jewelry and clothes. Randall cried for his lost toy truck. They salvaged a few things, but nothing of value.

"I'm just so destroyed," Green said. "Ten years of me left. I have a strong family, and they've been helping me, but I'm just sad."

She did glean hope that night, though, thanks to her neighbors. People from all parts of Seminole Heights came to offer help. One gave them the rest of her Home Depot gift card, and another brought them pizza and soda.

Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association president Randy Baron posted a message to residents on the neighborhood blog soliciting donations for the family, and saying he would personally donate $100.

"I mean, they were just awesome," Reed said. "Anything we needed, they were right there."

Green and her sons have moved into Reed's home in East Lake. But the wedding plans are on hold, and they still need help. To contribute, call Michael Reed at 813 380-4507.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.

"I'm just so destroyed. Ten years of me left. I have a strong family, and they've been helping me, but I'm just sad."

Paulette Green, whose home was destroyed by a fire

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[Last modified January 11, 2007, 08:25:02]