Firefighters Show Up To 87-Year-Old’s House, Discover 2 Newborns Were Inside The House
Jannie Ross, 87, had lived in the same house in Phoenix, Arizona, for 52 years. She had decorated for Christmas with presents under the tree for her big family. They were looking forward to having a big family celebration for the holidays in the home where many of them were raised or had lived at one point or another.
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As caretaker and babysitter for seven of her young grandchildren, Jannie has her hands full every day. As you can imagine, a life-threatening emergency would send Jannie and her big family into a tailspin. But that’s exactly what happened.
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Just a few days before Christmas, a fire ripped through Jannie’s home, destroying almost everything in it. But most importantly, Jannie was able to get her three-month-old and four-month-old grandchildren out of the home safely, 3TV reported.
“Me and my babies were in the bedroom and I smelled it and I went to my washroom to open my door and when I opened the door, that’s when smoke just, sshhhwww! I’m just glad I got me and my kids out.”
Unfortunately, Jannie lost her pets–a dog and a bird–as well as her belongings and all of her grandchildren’s Christmas presents. More than 50 years of memories also went up in flames for the family. Even Jannie’s niece Zaqueena Coleman told 3TV that everything her aunt owned was now gone. The home that everyone in the family had at one point lived in, laughed in, shared a meal in, had created memories in–was gone.
The house also was a beacon of hope for local youth in the neighborhood. Jannie regularly fed, housed and helped kids from the community who were struggling. Now, that house of hope filled with love and a helping hand was gone. Even Jannie ended up in the hospital after the fire.
But, local firefighters and police officers were not about to sit idly by. One day after the fire, officials from both the fire department and the police department rolled into the neighborhood with a truck full of Christmas gifts for Jannie’s grandchildren, gift cards for groceries and infant care supplies, holiday decorations and a full-sized Christmas tree. They delivered their load to Jannie’s relative’s house just across the street. Jannie couldn’t believe their generosity, she told 3TV.
“It’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I’m just blessed.”
The firefighters even set up the tree and strung the lights. Police Officer Wade Cheatham further shocked Jannie by giving her an envelope containing $500 in the hopes of helping her out in the short term. Captain P.J. Dean with the Phoenix Fire Department told 3TV that both departments felt compelled to help Jannie after all she does for others.
“We get into this business because we want to help people and that’s what’s in our hearts to do and we noticed these people could use a lot of help.”
Volunteers showed up and helped unload the vehicles full of goodies and holiday decorations. Members of Jannie’s extended family tearfully helped, too. They were full of gratitude for the generosity being shown to them.
Here’s footage of the fire’s devastation.
Thanks to a relative opening up her home to the large family and Jannie, as well as the donations from the fire and police department, Jannie’s family was still able to celebrate Christmas. While the home was considered a total loss, they rejoiced that Jannie and the babies made it out alive.
Source: Az Family/3TV, AZ Central FB Image Source: 3TV
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Firefighters Show Up To 87-Year-Old’s House, Discover 2 Newborns Were Inside The House
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