Family asking for community’s help after fire

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Someone’s life can change in an instant. 

One Bowling Green family knows this well after their home was destroyed by a fire last week.

Debra Rosser Key, owner of the home, describes that the fire started in her grandson’s room, caused by a candle knocked over by her puppy. 

 “His bedroom was on fire and there was smoke coming out everywhere. And I ran back there and saw like six foot flames coming out the top of his closet,” said Key. 

With the situation unlivable, they have been living in a hotel since then. 

“Everything got ruined. There’s two bedrooms and a bathroom and all that was fire damaged and everything else was like melted from the heat and there was really really bad smoke damage. Everything smells like a really intense burnt plastic.” 

With such high expenses, they started a fundraiser for help with temporary living and replacing the items they lost. 

The local Red Cross also will assist families like these that lost everything in a fire. 

“Life is not always fair. And when somebody has a catastrophic event for them, a home fire for example, it’s just the right thing to do. It’s very difficult to wake up one day and everything you own is gone,” said Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Jason Dotson.  

Key said that this experience taught her that family really means more than anything else. 

“Material things don’t mean anything, and I’m just glad I have my grandson and my puppies. My husband was at work so he wasn’t in any kind of danger. I’m just glad I have my grandson and my puppies. You know you can rebuild your life with your family, but you can’t do it without them,” said Key.