A family that recently moved from the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts to Cabool watched their house go up in flames about two weeks ago.
One of the family members, 20-year-old Markie Matchem, said the blaze was caused when a faulty fireplace allowed flames to get between the walls.
Matchem, who is the mother of an 18-month-old girl, came to Texas County with her mother and stepfather to be closer to relatives.
The fire occurred at about 3 a.m., and the family escaped when Markie’s stepfather was awakened by the crackle of flames and alerted the other two. They all then watched as their home and all their possessions were destroyed.
“When we came here, we brought all our stuff with us,” Markie said. “Now we have nothing. We literally watched the house burn to the ground. It was cold at three in the morning; it was horrible.”
Volunteer firefighters reportedly responded, but not until about an hour had gone by since the fire began.
Red Cross representatives helped the family pay for lodging for several days immediately following the fire. Angel House representatives have helped the family pay for housing in Houston, along with furniture and other major necessities.
But Markie’s mom had issues with her diabetes and was recently admitted to Texas County Memorial Hospital. On top of that, her stepfather (who has experience in construction and welding) had not been able to find work locally, and recently accepted a job in South Dakota.
While they do have a roof over their heads and several necessities have been provided, Markie said her family still needs clothing and other household items.
Anyone wishing to help can call Markie Matchem at 417-967-0186.