DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Decatur family is looking for a place to stay after a fire destroyed their house. Firefighters say the Finesse Drive home is likely a total loss.
Doreatha Champion, 77, woke up to odd sounds early Friday morning. She and her husband John Champion rushed to their garage of their nine-bedroom house.
"We could have been burned alive in there," Champion said.
John says the fire blew him back, and Doreatha began telling everyone to get out.
Doreatha says seven other family members were inside, following a Thanksgiving feast. Four of the couple's great grandkids and three other adults escaped, before the first roof collapse.
Even though the Doreatha and John escaped the fire with only their pajamas, Doreatha says family means much more than things.
DeKalb County firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire.
The Champion family is asking for donations to their GoFundMe page.