Mar-Mac family digs out from under the ashes
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on December 28, 2017 5:50 AM
Full Size
Submitted photo
As fire consumed their house on Dec. 23, Thomas Mosshammer and his family did all they could do to salvage their possessions. Firefighters helped rescue the family's Christmas presents, but just about everything else was lost.
Full Size
Submitted photo
A mattress is all that remains of one of the Mosshammers' bedrooms after fire destroyed their home Dec. 23.
Full Size
Submitted photo
Thomas Mosshammer stands in what was once his family's kitchen after fire destroyed the home where he lived with his wife, brother and three children.
Full Size
Submitted photo
Smoke billows from the Mosshammers' home in Mar-Mac two days before Christmas. The home was ravaged inside by fire, smoke and water from the firefighters' lines.
A local family lost everything in a house fire Saturday in Mar-Mac -- everything except its Christmas presents. Firefighters responding to the fire were able to retrieve the gifts and put them on the front lawn.
The American Red Cross is helping the family of three adults and three children with immediate needs, but the family needs a new place to call home and everything from appliances to beds and other furniture to furnish it.
"Our kids basically lost everything," said Thomas Mosshammer. "The kids' room, the whole room, got burnt down, even the beds and entertainment and toys, everything they had."
Mosshammer's adult brother also lived in the home and lost everything, but his church has provided everything he needs to get him back on track, so he needs nothing more.
"We lost our bed and furniture," Mosshammer said. "When the fire first happened, our neighbors ran across the street trying to help me get things out, but we couldn't get much because of the fire. It was not safe."
What the fire didn't ruin, the water used to put the fire out damaged, he said.
"My main concern now is furniture and beds," Mosshammer said.
The family is staying with friends and family right now, but is looking for another place to live.
The American Red Cross can take donations of small items for the family, said Kathy Jones, disaster program specialist. For big items, like appliances and furniture, donors may call the Red Cross office at 919-735-7201.
The entire family also needs clothing.
Sizes for the family are:
* Thomas Mosshammer, 35, medium shirt, 32-32 pants and 8 1/2 shoes.
* Megan Brown, 25, small shirt, 6 pants and 8 shoes.
* Boy, 9, size 9 clothes and size 3 shoes.
* Boy, 5, size 5T clothes and size 12 shoes.
* Girl, 2, size 2T clothes and size 7c shoes.
"We also want it to be known that we thank everyone for all the support and help, and everything is highly appreciated from my family to the community, Red Cross, Mar-Mac Fire Department and everyone involved in helping us in this time of need," Mosshammer said.