In a flash, Charlotte Davis’ kitchen was engulfed in flames when a pan of grease accidently caught on fire on May 16.
This is just one of many problems the 71-year-old York County resident has endured in less than a year.
She managed to escape the burning house with her dog, but was hospitalized for four days suffering burns to her face, chest and arms.
A pan she was using bumped another pan with grease in it, but wasn’t being used. The idle pan turned its burner on, and the grease quickly caught fire, Davis’ daughter, Angela Ward said.
The fire occurred just nine months after the house was treated for extensive mold damage caused a leaking steam pipe beneath the house.
The string of problems continued, Ward said.
Davis lives in her late husband’s childhood home that has been in the family for nearly 100 years. It sits on just over an acre. Her riding lawn mower was broken. Prior to the fire a repairman was set to pick it up. But with the fire melted the keys to the garage where it was stored.
“So much was melted and burned – her car keys, her wallet with cash, her credit cards, driver’s license,” Ward said.
With no way to cut the grass, it grew. Then the county issued a warning that if the grass does not get cut, a York County crew will cut it and a fine will be imposed. “We thought of just letting the county cut and pay for it, but I was told it could be pretty expensive,” she said.
Ward said the family was already concerned about medical bills not covered by Medicare.
Desperate, Ward appealed on social media, especially pages geared toward York County residents in need of help. Shortly, volunteers came to the rescue. Sheila and Mike Hoepfner, Emily Faulkner along with Crystal, Aubrey, David, Angela and Sue Drees cut the grass in record time.
Since that time, Davis discovered her dog was also burned in the fire. “We didn’t discover it at first, but he’s been licking and gnawing at certain spots,” Ward said. The dog was recently treated by a veterinarian
To offset the expenses, the family set up a Go Fund Me page. To contribute visit https://gofund.me/892eb8c8
Share Your Thoughts