Ferriday family escapes blaze, loses most possessions

Published 12:01 am Friday, February 6, 2015

Crews from Ferriday Fire Department, Concordia Fire District No. 2 and Vidalia Fire Department respond to a house fire on Fifth Street in Ferriday. The fire started in an unoccupied house, and the wind blew the flames toward Ramonda Green and Calvin Smith’s house, lighting it on fire. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

Crews from Ferriday Fire Department, Concordia Fire District No. 2 and Vidalia Fire Department respond to a house fire on Fifth Street in Ferriday. The fire started in an unoccupied house, and the wind blew the flames toward Ramonda Green and Calvin Smith’s house, lighting it on fire. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

FERRIDAY — A house fire on Fifth Street in Ferriday took most everything from the Ramonda Green and Calvin Smith’s family Thursday, but they all made it out in time.

Around 12:45 p.m., firefighters from Ferriday Fire Department, Concordia Fire District No. 2 and Vidalia Fire Department responded to the fire.

The fire started in the unoccupied house that sits just feet away from Green and Smith’s house. The flames were blown by the wind over to their house.

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The cause of the fire is still unknown.

From left, Zhane Green, 15, Ramonda Green, KenDerrick Green, Daysha Thomas and Ramon Martin watch as fire crews work to put out a fire at their house. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

From left, Zhane Green, 15, Ramonda Green, KenDerrick Green, Daysha Thomas and Ramon Martin watch as fire crews work to put out a fire at their house. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)

Green’s niece, Zenobia Green, was the first person to see the fire.

“She knocked on the door and said there was a fire between the houses,” Ramonda said. “We got a few things and all ran out.”

By the time crews arrived, the fire had already consumed most of both houses.

“With how much both houses were already on fire, our first mission was to protect the houses on both sides,” said Ferriday Fire Department Chief Herman Smith.

They were able to save the house next to the unoccupied house, but the house that was next to Green and Smith’s was damaged.

The fire leaves Green and Smith along with Green’s children KenDerrick Green, Alidrin Martin, 13, Zhane Green, 15, and KenDerrick’s 9-month-old Tahiry without a place to go.

“One minute we had clothes, a fridge full of food, and we were together in the living room,” Green said.

“And the next everything is gone, what we have on is what we have.”

The family is not completely alone in Ferriday.

“We have family nearby and I know they will help,” KenDerrick said. “But we lost everything and it wasn’t even our fault.”

The family requests any offer of assistance be directed to Green at 318-719-0513, or KenDerrick at 318-437-9495.