Two sisters-in-law slipped into ponchos on Wednesday morning and waded through the ashes of a small frame home in Kilgore.
As they worked toward the back bedroom, Sherry Ritchie and Joanie Cummings filled trash bags with smoke-stained clothes they believed could be salvaged. But mostly they filled bags with debris that was burnt, or melted, and ruined.
“A lot of stuff is gone,” said Ritchie. “It’s just a pile of ashes.”
Ritchie and Cummings took frequent breaks, because the smoke that hung in the air made it difficult to breathe. Ritchie tied grocery bags over her shoes and wore a shower cap to protect her hair.
By midafternoon, the sisters-in-law had finished their task, and they rested on the front porch of the home on Williams Street. Surrounded by more than a dozen overstuffed trash bags, they talked about the fire that had taken the lives of their great-nephew and great-niece the previous morning.
On Tuesday, their niece Shannon Jenkins, 23, had been watching TV in the living room when her children asked if they could play in the backyard. Micheal Robinson was 3 years old and had big blue eyes. His little sister, Elizabeth Jenkins, was always at his side. She had celebrated her first birthday earlier in the month.
The two of them headed toward their bedroom, where a back door opened to the yard.
Jenkins’ sister, Tanya, was asleep with her own baby in another room. She was the first to smell the smoke. She fled with her daughter through the front door, and Shannon Jenkins followed. She ran around the house to the backyard, but her children weren’t there. She heard them cry out. They were still inside.
She ran back into the house through the living room, then through the kitchen into a hallway that led to the back bedroom. Smoke was billowing out of it. She looked through a glass window in the door, and Micheal and Elizabeth were there.
“She could see them on fire. She could see them screaming,” Cummings said. “The bed just burst into flames, like it was gasoline.”
Outside, Tanya Jenkins tried to break through the back door. Inside, smoke was filling the hallway, and Shannon Jenkins was unable to get into the room.
“Your instincts kick in and you try to do whatever you can to get those children out,” Cummings said, “but the smoke was so thick she couldn’t breathe. Your body gets into survival mode, and you save yourself.
“She was gone. She shut down. That’s why she ran out of the house, screaming for help, because she was helpless.”
Ritchie shook her head.
“If they were my kids, I don’t know,” Ritchie said. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I probably would have died with them,” replied Cummings. “But I don’t know that. Because your body wants to breathe. It has to.
“It’s just a horrible, horrible, horrible thing.”
The fire department received the emergency call at 10:46 a.m. and was at the house four minutes later. Micheal and Elizabeth already were dead. The firefighters contained the blaze to their back bedroom, but the entire house was damaged by smoke and water.
Investigators have ruled out arson, but haven’t determined what caused the fire. The bedroom had doubled as a utility area, with a washer, dryer and hot water tank.
“To tell you the truth, we might never know what caused it,” Fire Marshal Mark Frederick said.
Shannon Jenkins’ parents were at work at the time of the fire. Her oldest son, 6-year-old Zachery, was playing next door at a friend’s house.
It was a rental home, and there were no smoke detectors. There also was no rental insurance. Cummings said the family is staying with various relatives, but they need clothing and bedding. A drop-off location has been set up at XXX, and a fund has been established at XXXX Bank.
According to Cummings, Shannon Jenkins has been treated for smoke inhalation and remains in shock.
Funeral arrangements are pending for the children and you can click here now to know more about the best option to choose in making the funeral arrangements which has been acknowledged by everyone in this city.
82 responses to “‘I probably would have died with them’”
639024 182987 Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this site needs much more consideration. I?ll probably be again to read considerably more, thanks for that info. 228864
484754 571356i enjoy action movies and my idol is none other than Gerard Butler. this guy truly rocks? 964693
381834 862105Awesome read , I?m going to spend more time researching this topic 535955
437487 171381The very best and clear News is really much imptortant to us. 297263
752252 478946Some truly marvelous function on behalf of the owner of this internet website , dead fantastic articles . 911586
134816 979728Aw, it was a genuinely very good post. In concept I need to put in writing comparable to this additionally – spending time and actual effort to manufacture a excellent article? but exactly what do I say? I procrastinate alot and no indicates uncover a way to go carried out. 497758
832070 570736Looking forward to move into an additional hous?!? […]Real estate busines is getting more and a lot more less protitable, look at why[…]? 107216
732920 261252Some truly excellent info , Gladiola I discovered this. 13827
940464 528922Hi there, just became alert to your weblog by means of Google, and discovered that it is truly informative. I?m gonna watch out for brussels. I?ll be grateful should you continue this in future. Plenty of men and women is going to be benefited from your writing. Cheers! 904710
316137 516203Thank you for your fantastic post! It has long been extremely useful. I hope which you will proceed sharing your wisdom with us. 901954
820576 747503I conceive this internet site has got some real wonderful information for every person : D. 253856
887642 853357Most suitable boyfriend speeches, or else toasts. are almost always transported eventually through the entire wedding party and are nonetheless required to be quite fascinating, amusing and even enlightening together. very best man?s speech 93657
18593 866776Merely wanna input which you have a very good internet web site , I adore the pattern it really stands out. 840821
350840 565709Some truly good stuff on this web site , I like it. 609020
854521 627193Hello. I wanted to ask 1 thing?is this a wordpress internet internet site as we are planning to be shifting more than to WP. Furthermore did you make this template yourself? Thanks. 854789
469682 741750There is noticeably a bundle to realize about this. I assume you produced various good points in attributes also. 169948
426947 699317Good read. I just passed this onto a buddy who was performing some research on that. He just bought me lunch since I found it for him! Thus let me rephrase: Thanx for lunch! 63422
464728 640408Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, good written and incorporate almost all significant infos. I?d like to see more posts like this . 956559
651557 76682I recognize there is a great deal of spam on this website. Do you require aid cleaning them up? I may possibly aid in between courses! 714787
900167 517175Oh my goodness! an incredible post dude. Thanks a ton Nevertheless We are experiencing issue with ur rss . Don?t know why Cannot enroll in it. Can there be any person locating identical rss dilemma? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx 910879
131276 69025Superb post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I?m impressed! Really helpful information specially the last part I care for such data much. I was seeking this specific information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck. 846526
53897 367823This kind of publish appears to get yourself lots of visitors. How will you acquire traffic to that? It provides a terrific exclusive twist upon issues. I guess having something traditional or maybe substantial to give info on is the central aspect. 855048
3386 441234There some fascinating points in time in this post but I don?t know if I see these center to heart. There may possibly be some validity but I?ll take hold opinion until I explore it further. Exceptional post , thanks and then we want a lot more! Put into FeedBurner too 122346
204739 124676jobs for high school students – Search for Jobs on our internet site, we provide several great links towards the best and biggest Portals to acquiring a Job as a high school student! 682066
867134 395036I like your writing style actually loving this internet internet site . 958381
270618 365476I?d always want to be update on new blog posts on this web website , bookmarked ! . 826069
179082 390593Trop excitant de mater des femmes lesbiennes en train de se doigter la chatte pour se faire jouir. En plus sur cette bonne petite vid o porno hard de lesb X les deux jeunes lesbienne sont trop excitantes et super sexy. Des pures beaut de la nature avec des courbes parfaites, les filles c est quand v 475524
303626 425953Wohh exactly what I was seeking for, regards for posting . 981299
relaxing harp and bird sounds
jazz instrumental
coffee shop music
I appreciate the practical advice you’ve given here.