CLEARWATER, Fla. — All Jake and Gladys Gadson can do is wait for answers after fire destroyed their home Friday night.
What You Need To Know
- Fire destroys home of Jake and Gladys Gadson
- They weren't hurt, but were only able to save a few belongings
- More Pinellas County headlines
“My age, I just like to go help people out and things,” said Jake as he looked at his home.
Jake is in his mid 80s and Gladys is in her 70s.
His home on Soule Road has been in his family for a very long time.
“When they built this house, there were no houses anywhere. There was nothing but the cemetery and up there where those condos and things, is a great big pasture with Red Bulls in it. Wasn’t anything but woods out here, and that’s the way it was,” said Jake.
Friday night was like any other night.
The couple was relaxing and Jake was watching football.
“Well I was sitting there watching TV and I smelled a little smoke. I looked back in the Florida room and I saw a flame. My wife, I called her and got the hose but we weren’t able to retain the fire. The smoke came in and the next thing I knew I dialed 911,” he said.
Firefighters from multiple stations and jurisdictions are on scene of this fire on Soule Road. pic.twitter.com/Gv0mnQAmTs
— Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department (@clearwaterfire) January 2, 2021
The couple was able to grab a few things and get out, but everything else was left behind.
Memories, a garden, and the little things that made their house a home were gone.
“I don’t really know right now what I’m going to do. I’m just waiting for some things to come along and happen,” Jake said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The family is receiving help from the Red Cross and a GoFundMe has been set up to help raise money to rebuild the home.
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