My NEW HOME BURNT DOWN. Thankful for life.

Hi, my names Leila Barnett. I was born and raised on the North Shore of Kaua’i, K-town Killahs. My Fiancée and I just moved into our first home together! After serving in the Navy, with both our careers added up to 24 years of service, we were beyond excited. We could hunt deer from our back porch, have a fenced in yard for our dogs, and we are finally independent! Our home was built in the Sixties and back then they had non-existent building codes for certain things, including the fire place.

I was home alone with my dogs so I made a fire. It was just one of those chilly winter nights. I fell asleep in front of it reading a book. The next thing I knew I was being pulled from the flames by a Police Officer. She pulled me out from my front door, to see my roof engulfed in flames. I had no idea how it could have happened. I was in such shock and horror all I cared about was getting my dogs out alive. There was no smoke or fire around the fireplace. The officer had just graduated the academy on Friday, and she drove by my house on Monday, and saw it on fire. She kicked my door in and saved my life. The entire county came together and helped save the lives of my dogs, which are my babies. The Fire Dept. EMS. The police. I am, we are lucky to be alive.

So, the top of the chimney shaft was supported by wooden two by fours. There was a eight in gap between the Flu and the top of the chimney. Once it heated up to a certain degree the 2x4 wooden supports caught and sparks went into my attic. I have a metal roof so it was completely contained, until it wasn’t. My home is deemed a total loss, after only paying one mortgage payment, but my dogs are fine and I have minor burns all over my finger tips. We are alive, thankfully. But we’ve now lost everything. It’s tragic, because most of the things that were precious to me that I’ve carried around since I left home at 18 are gone. I’m no different than anyone else who’s been through this but you truly don’t know , until you know. I have been truly humbled by this experience and if you find it in your heart to help us it would mean more to you than you could ever know. Thanks for even reading this. Xo