FREEBURG, Ill. – A family lost everything but each other this weekend when a fire ripped through their Metro East home.
Their clothes, Christmas presents and even their cat were all taken in the fire that destroyed their double-wide trailer in the Deerfield Court neighborhood just off of Highway 15 in Freeburg, Illinois.
Dustin Neff was trying to warm his frozen pipes with a propane heater Saturday afternoon. It caused a fast-moving fire. Firefighters were able to put the fire out in 15 minutes, but everything the Neff family worked for was gone.
Four adults and four children lived in the trailer. They were able to save two dogs and their pet bird.
Local school districts, neighbors and their property manager are helping with donations to get the family back on their feet. Neff said he’s incredibly grateful for all of the donations.
“It's tough living in a hotel and feeding because you can't cook or anything like that and that's the worst part but we're managing," he said. "And with everybody donating and bringing us food. Oh man, it's overwhelming and we're so thankful.”
The family has enough clothing donations and kitchen items.
The family says they need cash donations at this point to purchase a variety of things to help all eight of them survive. They’re currently living in a motel. You can click here if you would like to make a donation.
