Michigan community steps up after family's home is destroyed in fire

“It was … it was totally engulfed,” said Bill Zebell, Ministries Pastor at Berrien Center Bible Church.

A Michigan home is now unrecognizable for a Berrien Center family of four after their house caught fire not once, but twice.

The first flames were spotted around 9:13 p.m. Monday night when one of the kids who lived in the house saw flames outside her window.

Eau Claire Fire Department came out to extinguish the flames but it was far from over.

A second round of flames began just six hours later at 3:00 a.m. calling for Eau Claire to respond a second time and 5 more agencies to come help.

“The whole thing burned. When I got there the whole house was engulfed in flames and so it’s a total loss,” said Zebell.

No one was hurt in the fire but family, friends, neighbors, and the family’s Pastor still showed up to make sure the family would be ok moving forward.

“When I got the call that the house was on fire, my concern was that they’re pretty new to the community, they’re rural, kind of out in the country, not a lot of neighbors, but when I got there, the neighbors that they do have had already gotten there and were showing their support,” said Zebell.

He says the family lost all they had.

“It’s tough… they have two kids that are involved and they lost everything,” Zebell.

But there’s a silver lining.

“It’s a good opportunity for us as a community to be able to reach out and demonstrate our love and support to them during this tough time,” said Zebell.

So they’re asking for people not only in Berrien Center but from surrounding communities to show support for their neighbor.

“It’s been encouraging to see some of the response I know trinity Lutheran school in Berrien Springs has reached out. We as a church, Berrien Center Bible Church are opening a love offering fund help them to be able to get some of the basic needs that they need to get back on their feet,” said Zebell.

I spoke with the father of the home off camera who says everyone is doing ok as they continue to get back on their feet.

If you would like to donate to the Berrien Center Bible Church fund to help the family, you can do so by clicking here.