‘Whole life is just gone’: Fire destroys family’s home in Chester

CHESTER, S.C. — A Chester County family is getting help to move forward after a fire destroyed their home on Stanback Road Tuesday night.

Decades of memories, along with the home, were lost.

“We don’t have anything,” said Shakeya Chalk, mother.

A small flame started on the living room couch and Chalk and her son tried to put it out with water, but it was too late, the mother said.

ALSO READ: Firefighters get blaze under control at west Charlotte scrapyard

“My son had run back in the living room, and I was calling for his name because we had to run out the back door,” Chalk said. “That’s how fast the fire traveled. The whole house was on fire within 10 minutes.”

Firefighters arrived quickly but the family’s home was a total loss.

“Our whole life is just gone. Like everything just gone – everything,” Chalk said.

Chalk and her family are staying at a hotel with help from The American Red Cross.

The family has no insurance on the home, so neighbors created a GoFundMe page to help.

0 of 5

“I don’t know them that well, but I’m thankful for them that they were considerate enough to think of us and help us out because we really don’t have no place to go,” Chalk said.

The cause of the fire could be an electrical issue and the investigation should be completed by Friday, officials said.

Foul play is not expected to be the cause.

Click here if you would like to help.

VIDEO: Troopers: School bus driver cited for Burke County crash