Woman who lost home in fire feels community support

Friends, family and two churches have come together to help a Jessamine County woman who lost everything in a fire that destroyed her home and a vehicle and claimed the lives of her pets earlier this month.

Despite a devastating fire that stole every Earthly possession from her, Donna Burton has a positive outlook and said she has never felt more blessed with an “understanding of God’s will” — an understanding she said she will use to minister to other families in similar situations.

Burton was at church Sunday, July 1, when everything she owned went up in flames that burned approximately 25 acres of her family farm; she said the decision to attend the service may have saved her life.

It was a suspected electrical fire caused by a short in the air-conditioning unit of a small mobile home that ignited around 3 p.m. that Sunday on the 1800 block of Beaumont Road off Vince Road, Jessamine County fire chief Mike Rupard said.

The fire burned roughly 25-30 acres, three outbuildings and several vehicles, and it started to burn another home before firefighters were able to get it under control.

Unfortunately, it also killed Burton’s three red dachshunds, one of whom was pregnant.
“I keep telling myself if I had been home I could have helped them,” Burton said. “But truth is, (firefighters) told me I probably would have died, too, if I’d been in the trailer or tried to save them.”
Burton and her husband, Scott, said they have found a peace and joy in the comfort of a community supporting them while they recover from the tragedy.

One of those people was Tammy Hammond, who works in the Jessamine County Attorney’s Office.
“I don’t just collect support — I am a caseworker; however, my job is to also be a friend to these people and help them out,” Hammond said. “... I go above and beyond my job. I help find jobs; I help find them clothing, etc. Once I heard she had lost everything, I immediately put on my Facebook status that I need help collecting things for this family, (and) so many people replied wanting to help out. We always hear of all the bad things in this county and hardly ever good things. 

“This community comes together in times of need such as this and helps each other; that is what we are supposed to do.”

Other support came from two county churches and their members. Burton and her husband are living in a hotel paid for weekly by the church.

Parishioners of the church also purchased a new mobile home for her. Unfortunately, the mobile home is in Versailles, and time is running short to pay for its relocation to Jessamine County.
As far as a new pet, a member of her church introduced her to a brown and white dachshund, whom she named Hope.

“Day by day, it’s hope and faith in the Lord,” Burton said. “But we’re blessed, and as we get through this, we can help others get through it, too.”

Even more good news for Burton came in the form of a job from temp agency Remedy Intelligent Staffing.

She was supposed to begin a new job a few weeks ago but was unable to because of having to deal with the fire.

“I’d like to say a special thanks to (Remedy agent) Tom Breaker,” she said. “They held the job for me.”
Instead of losing the opportunity altogether, she started her new job Monday.
“You never know God’s plan,” she said, “and you don’t have to.”

Anyone who wants to donate can contact any United Bank and make a contribution to the Donna and Scott Burton Benefit to help her get her new mobile home back to Jessamine County.