Squirrel chews through electrical wires, sparking inferno that destroyed family’s home
A Florida family’s life was turned upside down after a mischievous squirrel sparked a fire that destroyed their home.
Donnie Banta and Stacey Davis were asleep with their children and pets in their Panama City residence on January 31 when a strange noise and the smell of smoke from the attic woke them.
“We were all asleep, and I heard the breaker flip in the back,” Banta said. “So I got up to see what the noise was, and I heard rustling in the attic, and I could smell an electrical odor.”
Realizing there was a fire, Davis quickly rushed to get everyone out safely. “It was very frantic. We were scrambling, trying to wake everybody up and get them all out,” she recalled.
Firefighters arrived promptly and contained the blaze, but the home was completely destroyed. Officials later determined that a squirrel had chewed through electrical wiring, causing the fire.
“They said a squirrel got into the attic and chewed on some wires and shorted it out, and that’s what started the fire,” Banta explained.
A GoFundMe campaign set up to support the family revealed that the fire caused the roof to collapse, leaving the family with nothing.
“They are now faced with the overwhelming challenge of starting over from scratch,” the fundraiser page said. “The loss of their home and belongings has left them in urgent need of support as they navigate this difficult time.”
Funds raised will help the family secure housing, clothing, and basic necessities as they begin rebuilding their lives.
“We’re mainly needing donations to go toward the GoFundMe account,” Davis said. “Maybe some furniture or kitchen items as well.”
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