Military family who recently moved to Central Texas from South Korea loses belongings in house fire
BELTON, Texas (KWTX) - The Crutch family, who moved to Central Texas from South Korea about three months ago, is starting from scratch after a massive fire in Belton destroyed their belongings.
“We got to America, Dec. 18, but we finally found a place, and we moved in the beginning of January,” Lakoya Crutch said. “Our furniture got here Feb. 11, so we were unloading all those boxes from Korea at the time this tragedy happened.”
The Crutch family was living in one of the homes that was destroyed by a massive fire fueled by wind March 5.
Lakoya and Jordawn Crutch, along with their four kids, relocated to South Korea about two years ago after Jordawn was stationed there. They hoped to make a home out of their last stop in Central Texas.
The family started renting a home on Fenton Lane in January, and they waited months for their belongings to be shipped from South Korea to Belton.
The Crutch family’s belongings finally arrived a month ago, and Lakoya and her daughter were almost done decorating.
On the morning of March 5, Lakoya said she was on the phone with Jordawn, and she went to bag up some empty boxes when she noticed flames.
“When I turned around, I saw a fire, and that’s all I saw,” she said. “All I could think of is telling my husband to come back.”
Two of their kids were home at the time, and, after Lakoya attempted to put out the fire, she quickly got her kids out of the house.
“I couldn’t do much but sit and wait for the fire department to come, and they’re a blessing, too,” she said. “They did their job very well.”
Lakoya said the day was already a difficult one. It was the anniversary of her mom’s death.
“I couldn’t get my mom,” she said. “Her ashes were still in there, and she was in the worst part, but the blessing is that, once it was over, they were able to get her. So I still have her. It was like a double whammy for me because I was already thinking about her on that day, and then this happens.”
Unfortunately, the Crutch family lost their belongings in the fire.
“We just moved in here,” Lakoya said. “I was in the midst of just decorating everything, me and my daughter. It was beautiful. Everything we worked hard for is gone. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.”
Luckily, their new community has shown them a helping hand.
“Just everybody out here...I can name names if I could...It’d be a long list of people out here that’s been contacting us and just asking what we need, and just checking in,” she said.
The family’s new church has also donated items to them. They have also recently found a new place to rent.
“Just keep all of us in your prayers and any support that could be provided,” Jordawn said. “Our army community has been awesome. It’s been so many things pouring from every direction, I can’t even explain. I just want to use this as just God works in mysterious ways from when he came to us, making the decision, finding a church home to the community of making all these different type of interpersonal connections.”
Jordawn said that three tragedies struck that day. The fire destroyed their neighbor’s home and the house they were renting.
The following are some GoFundMe’s set up to help all impacted by the fires in Belton on Fenton Lane earlier this month.
Owners of Fenton Lane House that caught fire Donations
Peter Barajas--owner of Fenton Lane House that caught fire
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