Jessamine County family loses home to fire

JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)- Twenty years of family memories destroyed as quick as lightning. Firefighters blame lightning for causing the fire that ruined a family’s home in Jessamine County just before the holidays.

Firefighters from two different counties worked to put out the flames Friday morning just off Nicholasville Road.

“It’s all gone. The entire house,” Over the phone, Michael Garrison told friend after friend about the crazy morning he had. He heard a loud explosion, went to check downstairs, put out some small flames underneath his fireplace, but they came back so around 7:30 p.m. he called for help.

From the car he recorded as the home he designed 20 years ago, the home he raised his family in, crumbled. He says firefighters rescued safes, a computer, and some portraits, but he thinks he lost his wedding album.

“There’s going to be a lot of stuff that’s hitting us at that point, seeing memorabilia that’s burned up,” Garrison said.

It was not an easy fire to control. It got into the attic and walls, making it hard for firefighters to get in front of it.

“It makes it real dangerous. We got to the top of the stairs and that’s as far as i’d let the guys go,” Chief Michael Rupard said.

Chief Rupard says Garrison asked firefighters to be careful.

“They’d got stuff in their lungs and they’re on their knees and you know, they put their life on the line for my house and that’s greatly appreciated,” Garrison said.

Even without a home just before the holidays, Garrison is thankful.

“I look at it and say, ‘God’s got it under control.’ It’s all replaceable. I’m safe. My wife is safe. The kids are safe and the dog is safe,” Garrison said.

Luckily, Grrison says his insurance company will help his family find a place to stay, but neighbors have also offered.