Dec 20

Dec 20 Total loss from house fire for family on Paul's Path Road

A local family lost their home in a structure fire on Tuesday night on Paul’s Path Road in Kinston. Dispatched at 7:50 pm on Tuesday, the fire was responded to by North Lenoir Fire & Rescue, La Grange Volunteer Fire Department, Lenoir County EMS, Lenoir County Emergency Management, and the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department responded to the fire. They were there for about four hours to distinguish the fire and investigate it.

“The fire has been ruled accidental with no foul play suspected. The house is a total loss, and we hate for anyone to lose anything, especially around the holidays,” said Dustin Burkett.

The residents of the home are Candy Jarman and her son Chris Jarman and Chris’s two daughters who are 6 and 4 years old. The home valued at $120,000 was only covered by $65,000 of insurance. Candy is blind and supports herself with a disability check that did not allow her to purchase more coverage.

“We lost everything. It started in my room and by the time the fire department got there, it was already to the carport over my truck. There’s nothing in the house as of right now that’s savable,” said Chris Jarman.

The fire started after a heater was being cleaned and quickly spread throughout the entire house. There were no injuries in the fire, and everyone was able to escape. The house was purchased by Candy Jarman’s grandparents to ensure that she and her sons would always have a roof over their heads.

“I have raised one generation and working on the second, in that house and in that school district. We survived Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Florence, we survived Corona through Thanksgiving and we’re going to survive this fire. You can’t keep a country girl down. Ain’t gonna happen. This grandma is coming back,” said Candy Jarman.

The family hopes to use the insurance money to repair and rebuild the house, but do not have any household items any longer. They are in need of pots, pans, silverware, furniture, beds, blankets, pillows as well as larger items that include all household appliances. Anyone wishing to assist the family can help them by sending direct payments through PayPal email is sherrieann0510@gmail.com or Cash app at $Showard0809. Items can also be dropped off or mailed to Attention: Sherrie Ann Howard, CDS Networks and Services, 672 Stratford Blvd, Kinston NC 28504. There is a fundraiser on Facebook organized by Howard at https://www.facebook.com/donate/738469733422658/738470400089258/.