A family of six escaped a Matanuska Valley fire but lost their home and possessions. Adam Barnes, the father, woke up at 4:30 a.m. to discover the motorhome they were living in completely enveloped in flames. “My wife was screaming that the house was on fire,” he said. Looking outside, Barnes saw the entire roof consumed by the growing fire.
Despite grabbing a fire extinguisher, Barnes quickly realized the fire had spread too far to be controlled. “I realized thirty seconds into waking up that there was no putting this fire out,” he said. Adam and his wife, Heather Barnes, worked frantically to get their four sons out of the burning motorhome. Heather got two children while Adam rescued another and directed their youngest to exit away from the flames. While the kids survived, their pets could not be saved.
Their six-year-old son, Jeremiah, sustained second-degree burns on his face while escaping with his father. The motorhome they had been using while renovating their permanent home was destroyed when the fire was extinguished. The family is now staying with friends from their church as they assess their next steps.
Barnes described the harrowing experience: “I believe we were doing everything we possibly could at the point in time with what we had.” This fire left the family without a home as winter approaches, intensifying their challenges. Local church members and friends have stepped in to support the family in this difficult time.
The cause of the Matanuska Valley fire remains under investigation, and the family focuses on healing and rebuilding. The tragic loss highlights the importance of fire safety awareness during the colder months.
This news article was originally published by Alaska´s News Source.
