After losing their home in 2003 to Hurricane Isabel, the West family saw misfortune strike once again. This time, a devastating fire destroyed their Perrin Creek Road home the afternoon of Nov. 28 and everything that was inside. 

Homeowner Frank West said his wife Blanche was the only one home at the time the blaze started near the rear of the home. “She was sitting in this room up front watching a soap opera,” West said. “She smelled smoke and thought it was someone burning something outside. They do that a lot down here.”

However, the smoke wasn’t coming from outside. “It kept getting stronger,” he said. “So, she got up and looked down the hallway toward the back bedroom and saw black smoke coming out from under the door. By then, it was too late.”

West said his wife immediately ran out of the house and went across the street to a neighbor who dialed the fire department. 

According to Drew Luellen, spokesperson for t...