Family loses home and pets in fire

A family in Cabell County, West Virginia, lost their home and pets in a house fire.
Published: Jul. 5, 2024 at 6:23 PM EDT

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - After moving into a home that has put a roof over multiple generations, the Thompson family is forced to find a new beginning after flames left behind trails of damage.

A link to their GoFundMe can me found here.

“All the stuff we would have is not usable,” Amanda Thompson said.

Amanda and her husband Walter just finished moving in the last of their belongings Tuesday, and the next day their home caught fire. They say the fire started somewhere in the kitchen.

Thankfully Amanda, Walter and their daughter were not home at the time, but they did lose their two dogs and a cat -- losses that Amanda says have been hard on her daughter, Aubrey.

“Seeing her emotions, it really tore me up,” Amanda said.

Amanda says her daughter just turned 6 years old. Her birthday party was on Saturday -- days before the fire.

“All of her stuff was in there. I feel guilty in a way, which I know is nothing I could have controlled by any means. I’m just upset that she’s going day to day now with none of her things,” Amanda said.

They’re staying with other family for the meantime and trying to move forward little by little when it comes to buying simple necessities.

“Clothes, soap, pillows, blankets,” Amanda said.

The family says at the end of the day, material items can be replaced-- and that they are thankful to have each other.

“You got to hold on to the small things. It’s the little things in life that really matter. You don’t realize that until something like this happens.”