CENTRAL — A mother and paramedic is reeling after losing her home, vehicles, and family pets in a devastating house fire that woke her early Thursday morning.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m. on Feb. 6 while Shontelle Stuckey and her family were home.
“I remember waking up and walking through the house because my girlfriend was fumbling around in the kitchen, and I heard her drop something, so I thought she had fallen,” Stuckey explained.
In reality, her girlfriend (also a paramedic) had noticed the garage was already on fire and was trying to retrieve the fire extinguisher.
As soon as Stuckey realized what was happening, they rushed to get her daughter out of bed and escape. Within minutes, the entire house was engulfed in flames.
The Central Fire Department dispatched two units, but as crews approached and saw the heavy smoke, they called for additional support. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within 20 minutes of arrival, officials said.
After an investigation, the fire was determined to be accidental and caused by an unattended Solo Stove. The fire department informed Stuckey that night that the house is a total loss. The family is now working with their insurance company to determine the next steps.
After escaping, they realized two of their pets had died in the fire, and one of their cats remains missing, Stuckey said.
The family is now assessing what they need, as they were only able to grab a few belongings before evacuating. Stuckey’s daughter had recently purchased items for her birthday, which were also lost in the fire. They are adding essential items to their Amazon Wishlist (link will be provided).
“We’re trying to make do right now,” Stuckey said. “I’m not the type of person who asks for help, but, I mean, at this time, we don’t even have shoes. We don’t have pants. We don’t have clothes.”
Her daughter’s school is assisting by donating school supplies.
To help Stuckey and her family, donations can be made to their GoFundMe. The family has also started an Amazon Wishlist of some items they need, which can be sent directly to them. Other than shoes, the family has received many clothing donations already.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
