A little girl was riding this bicycle just a few days ago... Now like everything the Tarbell family owned, it's twisted metal and ashes.
The owner says the fire started in the master bedroom and he did his best to put it out. But before he knew it the whole house was up in flames.
"The smoke was so bad I couldn't even get in the back door," Brian Tarbell said.
This family of seven lost everything they own and their entire house. They didn't have insurance.
"It's like that's your life savings right there, just went down the drain," Tarbell said.
It's a harsh reality for this grandpa. He says the family is managing, but he's worried about his three grandkids.
"The two smallest ones really haven't realized much yet, but the oldest one, he's a little devastated,” Tarbell said. “You know, everything they had is gone now."
But hope is on the horizon. The Red Cross and Salvation Army have pitched in to get the family a motel for a few nights, and community members are going above and beyond to help this family in need. Aaron Shrum and the motorcycle community are cleaning up an apartment the family can live in as long as they need.
"I couldn't imagine going through it myself, much less to see this family, knowing him and his father have both served our country,” Shrum said. “And to see them have to start over from scratch again.”
Welcome Home Veterans is stepping up too.
"We've got clothes, we've got furniture, we've got household items, everything they need to start their life over again and be prepared," Dave Dunlop with Welcome Home Veterans said.
Tarbell says what his family needs most right now are some big dumpsters... So they can
"Try to clean up."
What's left of their house and start anew.
