JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 67-year-old man and his family are without a home for the holidays after an accidental fire that investigators said was caused by a child playing with a lighter broke out in his Arlington home and caused the home to be condemned.
As the holidays are supposed to be a merry time of the year, Vivion Shelton is trying to pick up the pieces left behind after a home he owned for 10 years on Justina Road near Merrill Road sustained extensive damage by a fire, leaving him, his daughter, her seven children and his daughter’s boyfriend out of a home.
Shelton is now living in a hotel as the financial aid he received from the American Red Cross is running out. His daughter, her boyfriend and her children are staying with a friend. A seventh child is temporarily staying at another friend’s house.
He said neighbors have helped him, but there’s only so much they can contribute.
The home was insured, but insurance will only pay for the rebuild and limited out-of-pocket expenses.
“The nine family members were visiting so they were not officially part of this residence, and they are not included in that for insurance purposes since they were not residents. They lost everything,” Retired Jacksonville Beach Firefighter Dale Brooks said, who felt compelled to start a GoFundMe for the family.
“The family needs a place, temporary shelter, and housing until they can get back into this house. The kids. It’s Christmas time. They lost everything here at Christmas time,” Brooks said.
Brooks said the fire started in a bedroom closet. According to investigators, one of the Shelton’s grandchildren was playing with a lighter inside the closet.
Shelton was at work when he learned about the fire. He recalled the moment the fire crews allowed him to enter the house.
“When they let me walk through, I was like, ‘Everything is gone,’” he said.
“It’s a miracle that no one was injured because the kids were in this room when it happened, and they all got a chance to get out. I was happy to hear that, especially my granddaughter because she was asleep,” Shelton said.
The extensive damage required the house to be gutted and rebuilt, which could take up to a year.
Brooks suggested that the fire was at least 1,000 degrees and said a house fire would double in size every 17 seconds and spread through the house.
“It could have been worse. Somebody could have been hurt. I could have lost a family member,” Shelton said. “Put yourself in my position and if you can help me that’s fine. If not, prayers will work as well too.”
Shelton said the images of what’s left should serve as a good reminder of what can happen when small children get their hands on a lighter.
“I’m not a smoker, but my daughter and her boyfriend do smoke. They evidently had a lighter lying around. Always keep that stuff in a position where the kids can’t get to it,” he warned.
Brooks also spoke about what people could learn from Shelton’s story.
“It’s assumed that kids won’t touch things that are there,” Brooks said. “Never make that assumption as Mr. Shelton said, the assumption is that the kids were going to be responsible with some of the lighters lying around. Children are going to imitate you, and they are curious by nature. So, things like lighters or anything that can spark a flame, they’re going to be curious about. They don’t have it worked out in their minds yet of the damage that can cause.”
If you’d like to contribute to the family’s GoFundMe, donate here.