Published: October 18, 2007 07:59 am            

Family starts to rebuild after fire

PAINT LICK — Wednesday was the last day that Tami and Julian “Buck” Cain, along with their three children, were able to stay in a motel that has served as home since the family’s trailer at 118 Rhodus Way was destroyed by fire Sunday night.

“We were not able to save much of anything,” said Tami Cain. “We heard the smoke detector at about one in the morning and the house was filled with smoke, but everyone got out fine.”

The Cain Family Relief Fund account has been created at all Madison Bank branches in the family’s honor where monetary donations can be given or sent.

The Salvation Army and American Red Cross already have come to the family’s assistance.

The family is getting closer to moving into another trailer that is in the same area, Cain said.

“I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible for the children,” she said. “They will be in the same school district and ride the same bus.”

Cain said it was difficult to believe as she watched her home burn uncontrollably. Several surrounding volunteer fire departments responded, but the trailer already was a total loss by the time they arrived, she said.

“All I was worried about was getting the kids out safely,” she said. “We knew that we had lost everything we had. There’s just some things that you can’t replace, and to lose everything that you’ve ever had, it’s devastating.”

Cain and her family have been returning to the burn site sifting through the charred remains that they used to call home.

“After we get out here and start to clean up, it’s going to sink in,” she said. “I still cannot believe that something like this could happen to us.”

Donation drop-off spots include the Kirksville Baptist Church at 542 Kirksville Road and Jack Burford Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Inc. on the Eastern Bypass in Richmond. All donations are appreciated, including clothes, food, monetary donations and other necessary items and toiletries.

Officials at Paint Lick Elementary School said Monday they also will collect donations for the victims.

A relative of the family sent out a request for clothing Monday. Below is a list of names and sizes of the Cain family:

• Katy, age 5, clothes size 7-8, shoes size 12

• Jake, age 8, clothes size 8-10, shoes size 1

• Amber, age 11, pants size 0-1, shirt small, shoes size 7 1/2

• Tami, pants 16, shirt large, shoes size 9 1/2

• Julian, pants 30x32, shirt large, shoes size 8 1/2

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.

        

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