Fire destroys Albany home

A house fire in Albany during the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 11, destroyed the home and the majority of the personal belongings of Trisha and J.R. Reyes, and donations for them are being accepted at both local banks.

“At approximately 3:30 a.m. the Albany Volunteer Fire Department responded to a well-involved structure fire on Gregg Street with Engine 2 and Rescue 5,” said chief Kyle Tischler. “The occupant was able to get out safely, but the house was completely destroyed. Unfortunately the family pets were lost in the fire.”

The fire burned for about five hours, and was caused by an electrical problem, according to the chief.

Trisha Reyes, the daughter of Wanda and the late Wayne Hogan, works at Dollar General and delivers The Abilene Reporter News. J.R. Reyes is a truck driver.

“My husband had left about midnight, and he did not see or smell anything unusual,” said Reyes. “Paige Thompson, a close neighbor, later said that she thought she heard something around 2:30 a.m., but my other neighbors didn’t notice anything.”

Reyes woke up in the night, noticed the house seemed unusually dark, and looked at her cell phone to see what time it was.

“It was around 3:00 a.m.,” she said. “Then I noticed all the smoke! I got up, and went into the kitchen, looked across the other room toward the air conditioner, and saw that it was starting to flame!”

Reyes heard her five Chihuahuas whimpering, and tried to go to them, but could not get there due to all the smoke and heat.

“It was so hot in the house, I don’t even know what to compare it to,” Reyes said. “I have never felt anything that hot! And the smoke was so thick that I had to retreat to the bathroom and open the window so I could breathe.”

Reyes realized that she needed to bale out of the bathroom window to escape the fire and smoke.

“Mother said that God pulled me out, but I say He pushed me,” said Reyes. “I’m all bruised and scraped up, but I am so thankful to have gotten out!”

Once she was out of the window, Reyes ran around the house, calling for help, and grabbed a water hose to battle the blaze.

“Just a part of the front of the house was on fire when I first got out,” she said. “The garden hose was also at the front of the house, but on the other side of the porch. I turned on the water, stretched the hose as far as I could, and sprayed water on the fire until the water just stopped.”

The PVC water pipe had melted in the heat, and Reyes watched helplessly as the fire quickly spread from room to room.

“It’s an older house, and the wood went like kindling,” she said. “When I first got out of the house, I thought that we could still save the back of the house and my dogs, but it just spread too quickly. There was just so much fire, black smoke, and red and orange bits floating above.”

Reyes added that her grandchildren often spend the night with her, and she was very glad that no one else was in the house Tuesday night.

“A friend of Billy Bob Morrison, who was staying at his house, was the first person to arrive to see if he could help,” said Reyes. “Jeff Davis was next, and at first I didn’t even recognize him because of his beard, but then I just dissolved in his arms.”

The house, which was uninsured, was completely destroyed and vehicles parked close by were also damaged. 

“I’ve worked in the insurance field, and I know better; but I had changed jobs, and I just didn’t have enough money,” Reyes said. “That was a huge mistake. Don’t ever go without insurance and smoke detectors!”

The front of her Nissan Altima melted in the heat.

“It is probably totalled, but it was insured,” Reyes said. “The 1994 pickup was damaged, but should be fixable. I hope to resurrect it for something to drive.”

Reyes said that her husband found her purse, totally ruined, but still holding her keys, in the ashes.

“The key fob for starting the Nissan had melted, but the pickup keys should still work,” she said. “And I have the house key, but no front door, or even a door knob, to unlock with it anymore.”

Reyes is currently staying with her daughter, Kathy Thompson, in part because it is a little further away from her burned-down house than her mother’s residence next door.

“Right now I need a little distance,” Reyes said. “I keep having nightmares and I think that I’m smelling smoke all the time.”

Recovery

Reyes escaped the fire with what she was wearing. She did not even have a pair of shoes or the phone she used to check the time when she woke up.

“She’s a lifelong Albany resident and she is going to need everything,” said Charles Ray Holson, a former classmate. “We’ve set up accounts for her at both local banks. My hope is that we can get enough together to put down on a house or to get her set up in an apartment.”

Deposits for Reyes can be made at any of the First National Bank Albany/Breckenridge locations and at First Financial Bank.

“I’m thankful, and blessed, and overcome with what everyone has done,” said Reyes. “When you’ve lost so much, everything is helpful. Donna Schkade dropped off clothes and a bag of shoes and it was so wonderful to have a bag of shoes to look through.”

J.R. Reyes did not lose as many of his personal possessions because a lot of his things are at a cabin where the Reyes’ horses are pastured near Anson.

“Because he works long hours, he often just stays and spends the night in the cabin after he’s fed the horses,” said Reyes. “He said that he’ll be fine without the stuff he lost.”

Reyes added that she hopes to build a new house.

“I’m going to rebuild,” Reyes said. “I don’t think that I could stand to rebuild at the exact same spot where the house was, but it’s a big enough lot that I can move over a little.”

Those who want to help Reyes recover can donate to the “Trish Reyes Fund” at FNB Albany/Breckenridge or at First Financial.

“I’ve always tried to help others, but never expected to be the one to need help.” Reyes said. “I’m truly blessed to live here in Albany, where people care so much about each other.”