By Meghan McCormick
Less than a week before Christmas, a Slaughterville family has been left homeless after a fire destroyed their house and claimed all of their belongings.
Angela and Daniel Jones with their four children Chris, 15, Jen, 13, Levi, 9, and Noah, 8, were left with just the clothes they wore to school and work Thursday.
"We lost everything," Angela Jones said Friday morning.
The fire at 6300 Mocella North was reported about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. When firefighters arrived, flames had already damaged most of the trailer.
Luckily, no family members were home Thursday evening when the fire broke out.
"We worked yesterday," Jones said.
The family left the residence about 7 a.m. Thursday to attend school and work. Jones said hours later a neighbor phoned her about the fire.
"I got a call from our neighbor that our house was on fire," she said.
Jones said her family has lost everything but she's grateful for at least one thing.
"Thank God the kids were with me," she said.
Jones said she and her husband have the task of finding a place to live for the family. The couple rented the trailer, and Jones said she doesn't have any family who live in the state.
"Red Cross put us in a motel. After Sunday, then I'm going to be homeless," she said.
Jones said her family needs the basic essentials ranging from clothes to shoes. Fire and smoke claimed everything that was inside the structure.
"We couldn't salvage anything," she said.
Jones said she had already completed her Christmas shopping, and had stored the gifts in the home.
Slaughterville Baptist Church Pastor Greg Mack said he spoke with the Jones family Thursday night after learning about the fire.
"The Red Cross took them last night and put them up with a place to stay," Mack said.
Mack said donations for the Jones family will be accepted at the church next week.
"The way they were talking, it will be at least a week before they can find another place to live," Mack said. "If someone wanted to give donations, I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated."
Mack said anyone is welcome to drop off donations from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the church, located at the corner of Highway 77 and 60th Ave SE in Slaughterville.
"We will make sure they get whatever monies, gifts or clothes are dropped off," he said.
Slaughterville Fire Chief Paul Long said firefighters from Slaughterville and Noble fire departments battled the blaze that claimed the single-wide trailer.
Long said he isn't sure what sparked the fire, but his department is investigating to determine its origin and cause.
One Slaughterville firefighter was slightly injured when he fell at the scene. Long said the man was fine and checked out by paramedics.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
