Single mother seeks help after losing everything in house fire

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A single mother is begging for help after losing everything in a house fire earlier this month in Binghampton.

Erika Doss, the homeowner, says the fire happened on August 9 while she was at work. She has lived in the house for five years.

“Ain’t nobody offer me nothing. Nothing. No one tried to do a fundraiser or nothing and then they cut my days at work,” said Erika Doss, the homeowner.

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Judging by the outside you would think the house is okay, but if you look inside, smoke debris still remains in the window.

“Devastating, devastating everybody crying,” Doss said. “It was sad this is the most heartbreaking thing ever.”

According to the Memphis Fire Department, the fire was caused after an occupant was using a candle for light in the bathroom and accidentally left it burning when she took her kids to school and went to work.

Not only did her three children lose all their back-to-school supplies but they also lost their dog, Blue.

“We had him since he was small and he just became part of the family and that was my baby,” Doss said.

She is now asking the community for help.

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“All I ask for is some help with clothes, food, any household items,” Doss said. “I have to replace everything not just clothes and shoes but I have to have furniture, bed, everything.”

So far, one non-profit organization says they are willing to help where they can.

“We understand when a person is misplaced due to no fault of their own it’s important for the community to come together. And what we can do as we are a family is connect them to resources and food is an instant service,” said Tracey Millbrook, Executive director of We Are Family Community Development Corporation. “It’s wrong for us to be able to help her and not help her.”

If you would like to help, Doss has set up a GoFundMe .

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