Family loses home in house fire

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
It was around 3 a.m. when Kenneth Crow woke up to half of his grandparents’ house engulfed in flames. The mobile home, which sat near the end of County Road 126 about 15 miles north of Edna, was completely gone in a matter of minutes.
According to Captain Nick Strauss of ESD3, the call came in at 3:06 a.m., and by the time crews got to the scene, the house was fully engulfed. The structure, which covered about 2,000 square feet – a mobile home with a few add-ons – was a total loss.
Five people were in the home when it went up in flames, and two dogs. One of the dogs did not make it out of the fire. All five humans and a bulldog were uninjured.
It is believed that the fire was of electrical origin.
The Crossroads area saw several fires over the weekend, something Strauss attributes, at least partially, to the use of heaters and other means of keeping warm. This time of year is known among fire personnel as “fire season.”
The Parr family, who has lived in the home for 39 years, is not sure now what they’ll do. They are beginning from scratch, having escaped the blaze with only the clothes on their backs.
Sharon, John, and Johnnie Ray Parr Jr., known to those who love him as J.R., are depending on family and the kindness of strangers to get by. The irony is not lost on their friends. Friend of the family Charles Matthews said the Parrs are usually the ones doing the helping.
“This is such a good family,” he said, “I was just here for Christmas.”
There have been some donations of things such as clothing dropped off already, but J.R. doesn’t even have school supplies. Toiletries, clothing, even the most basic needs are suddenly not readily available for the family.
Family members have set up a gofundme account at www.gofundme.com-parrfamilt. Donations can also be dropped off at the home of Trisha Harris, the Parr’s daughter, with whom they are staying in the meantime. To drop off donations, call 361-460-4349.