Donations of clothing and other items are being accepted at the Healdton Police Department for a couple with four children who lost their home in a fire on Sunday. An account has been set up for monetary donations at the local bank.
Fire Chief Deon Rich of the Healdton Volunteer Fire Department said the fire started about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday on the corner of Fourth and Gulf streets. It was a total loss.
Rich said he talked with the homeowner and someone was doing some grilling outside a little too close to the house. The porch caught on fire and from there it spread. The fire was put out and the department left around 9:30-10 p.m., according to Rich. Then the fire rekindled and firefighters had to put it out again about 4:30 a.m. Monday morning.
The Clinton Hunter family is staying with friends in Healdton now. Hunter said he and his wife, D’Anna, have two boys and two girls who range in age from 7 to 11 years.
“Shelby, she’s 7, Cyle, he’s 8, Mekalah, she’s 9 and Bryce is 11,” Hunter said. “The kids have been staying with friends, I mean everybody has been helping us. If I had been 10 minutes later coming home from church, it would have took out my whole family. We opened the back door to get out of there and flames shot out. My wife kind of scorched her hair getting out. We just started getting the kids out. The smoke was solid black. It was like a tornado or something.”
Joy Emberling, dispatcher for the Healdton Police Department, said people have been bringing clothes by the police station and dropping them off for the family.
“All they got out with was the clothes they were wearing,” Emberling said. “They need everything, sheets, towels, stuff you have to have to set up a household again. I keep reminding everybody, they lost everything. I know they don’t have anyplace to put it right now, but surely we can figure out storage of some kind. I’ll put it in my garage if I have to — just anything to help them.”
People who would like to donate may do so at any First Bank & Trust Co. location or mail it to First Bank & Trust Co., P.O. Box 700, Healdton, OK 73438. Checks should be made out to Clinton Hunter.
Sheila J. Robinson, 221-6536
sheila.robinson@ardmoreite.com
