Fire destroys Florissant family’s home during birthday celebration

FLORISSANT, Mo. – On Thursday, a family of five was celebrating their daughter’s birthday in their home when the entire house went up in flames.

Kanisha Anthony and her husband were getting their son ready for homecoming when something went terribly wrong.

“My husband smelled an odor that he hadn’t smelled before. It was coming from the fireplace and that’s when he grabbed the fire extinguisher. He was able to put the fire that was actually in the fireplace out. And then we didn’t know where the rest of the fire was coming from. The fire was in the walls and in the ceiling. Like you couldn’t see it at all. But kids knew oh my gosh the walls are bubbling. Like that’s not normal. Like we got to go. Get out,” said Anthony.

The fire ravaged their home, destroying the entire upstairs, including the living room, kitchen and bedrooms. But this is not the time kanisha has faced tradegy. In 1993, when she was just four years old, her home caught fire, claiming the lives of her two brothers and leaving her with permanent scars. She lost three fingers and part of one ear in that fire. Kanisha’s husband is also a burn survivor and the two met at a burn camp.

“I think being burn survivors, were like always on top of that. We always talk to our kids about escape plans and all that stuff to be watchful. Something was like ‘ding din, go’” said Anthony.

The Florissant Fire Department told FOX 2 that the fire started around the fireplace, spreading through faulty vent pipes behind the walls. The home is unihabitable and the family escaped with just the clothes on their backs.

“We’re expecting baby number four. We’re having a boy. We’ve been on bed rest a lot of this pregnancy. We’re excited for him to come  but it’d also like we’re bringing in a baby into not our home anymore/ So it’s kind of scary coming out. When’s he going to be here? Am I going to go early? Anything. I’m a little nervous but also I’m grateful as well’” said Anthony.

Now with a baby on the way and three children, Kanisha’s family is in desperate need of food, clothing and help to rebuild their lives.

There is now a GoFundMe page that if you would like to go ahead and support this family who has lost everything. You can visit their GoFundMe page here to donate.

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