It was around three in the morning on July 3 when Jim Werner and his sister Susan O’Shei woke up to a loud “pop” sounds.
What You Need To Know
- Fireworks destroyed Jim Werner's home and damaged the house next to his
- His family started a GoFundMe and have already raised more than $6,000.
- Werner wants people to leave fireworks to the professionals
"I smelled smoke and I walked out into the living room and I thought it was the smell of the fireworks. It smelled like a sulfur smell," Werner said. "I opened up the kitchen door and a fireman was at the door. He told me a two-story structure was on fire and I had to get out of the house. I didn't know it was mine until I got out."
Fire investigators told Spectrum News that they believe fireworks started the massive fire that destroyed Werner's home and damaged the house next to his.
He made it out alright. He lost not only his house, but this was also his childhood home.
"We all lived there our whole lives, which is 50-some years," he said.
He was able to recover some items, but many were lost.
"Most of the stuff is soaked with water, charred and completely burned," he said. "There's so much to do with the insurance companies and just dealing with it in general, getting new clothes, going back and forth to the house, and trying to salvage some of the stuff, important stuff. It's just been stressful."
To help, his family started a GoFundMe and already they've raised more than $6,000.
"People have done so much for me. It's amazing, it's really humbling," he said. "My family, my friends, all my neighbors and people that I don't even know. And it's hard to comprehend that, especially when it's people you don't know."
His sister says they will also accept clothes donations.
He wants people to leave fireworks to the professionals.
"Don't be careless with them. As far as I'm concerned, you know the type of neighborhood that I live in, the houses are so close together and it's just the carelessness of it," said Werner. "They have to land somewhere. It doesn't mean they aren't still on fire. Go watch them somewhere. Go watch the professionals do it. Don't do it in the neighborhood."
Fire officials say sparkling devices that are purchased in New York are the only type of fireworks that are legal if you're not a professional.
Werner says the house is set to be demolished and, while the family says it's a devastating loss, Werner's sister is still grateful for one thing.
"I would rather be handling the loss of the house than planning a funeral, because he's my life and I'm glad he's here with me now," O'Shei said.
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July 13, 2020 at 01:26AM
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GoFundMe Started to Help Man Who Lost Home in Fire - Spectrum News
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