Fire destroys home, family in need

Local news

December 24, 2012

Fire destroys home, family in need

Becky Crissman Cordele Dispatch The Cordele Dispatch Mon Dec 24, 2012, 11:52 AM EST

Pitts — A local family is homeless after an early Friday morning fire here destroyed their home.

According to Rochelle Fire Chief Wayne McGuinty, his department received the call at 3:38 a.m. as the Pitts Volunteer Fire Department requested assistance with a structure fire on Dorsey Lane.

The two agencies, along with the Wilcox State Prison Fire Team responded to the home of Bobby and Bonnie Bishop. They found the home fully involved when they arrived.

McGuinty said firefighters spent two hours at the scene fighting the blaze, but the home was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but is believed to have begun in the front part of the structure.

The Bishops and their three children, who were all home at the time of the fire, escaped without any injuries.

“They were very fortunate to get out,” said McGuinty.

Now, with Christmas just a few days away, the Bishops are trying to pick up the pieces and carry on.

Mr. Bishop is a youth pastor at Free Life Church in Cordele and his wife Bonnie is currently in nursing school. Their three children, Cori, Robert and Joshua are 15, 13, and 10 years of age. Friends have gone to the social networking site Facebook seeking help for the family who lost everything, including Christmas presents they had bought for their children.

“Right now, they are working on taking care of their most basic necessities,” said family friend Michelle West. “They are getting needed medicines that were lost refilled. They need clothing and personal care items. Some of them lost needed glasses and contacts. Then they will begin at square one looking for another home to rent.”

West said that donations are being accepted for the family and are very much appreciated. She said people had already begun donating bags of clothes and toys, money and gift cards for the family to purchase needed items.

Of course, clothing is one of the family’s immediate needs. West says that she can be contacted at (229) 322-1533 if anyone would like to make a donation to this family. She has the clothing sizes of family members available for those who would like to help.

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