A Lewis County family of 10, including eight children, is receiving assistance after a fire heavily damaged their home on Thorp Ridge Road near Petersville Wednesday afternoon.
Kiana and BJ Cunningham and the eight children in their household were displaced by the fire on Thorp Ridge Road.
Lewis County E-911 received the report of a structure fire at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, August 12. The initial caller reported the fire was in a bedroom and that everyone had made it safely outside.
No injuries were reported, although two family pets perished in the fire.
Firefighters from several departments responded as the fire spread through the residence. Lewis County Emergency Management was notified, and the American Red Cross was contacted within minutes of the initial call to assist the displaced family.
Dispatch records show Red Cross representatives were already in the area and responded to assist.
Firefighters from Tollesboro, Lewis County, and Vanceburg departments were dispatched, and mutual aid was requested from neighboring Fleming County, with Mt. Carmel and Muses Mills firefighters responding.
The fire required an extended response, with crews remaining at the scene into the late afternoon. The last responding resources cleared the incident shortly after 5:00 p.m.
The Cunningham family lost clothing and other belongings in the fire, and friends and community members have begun efforts to help the family replace some of what was lost.
A social media appeal circulated following the fire lists clothing and shoe sizes needed for members of the family. With eight children in the household, those needs span a wide range of children’s and adult clothing and shoe sizes.
Anyone wishing to help financially may contribute through Kiana Cunningham’s Cash App at $kianamae29.
Contributions may also be left at Oak Ridge General Store. Call 606-796-6641 for information.
The American Red Cross responded Wednesday to assist the family with immediate needs following the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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