neighborhood fire

we came home from church sunday to find our street blocked off by dozens of cop cars and firetrucks. we could see that there was a fire and couldn't tell exactly which house had set fire. at first we were a little worried it was our house. when we finally made it to our street, we realized that two houses down and across the street from us was the one on fire. the roof had caved in and the flames were pouring out of the roof. since church had just gotten out, the entire ward was there to watch as this poor little family lost everything. after we had been watching the lackluster firemen try to put the fire out with little avail, the paramedics strolled {i say strolled because no urgency was involved} to the house with a strecther in hand. someone was inside! we had all been thinking how lucky it was that everyone was at church, but apparently kevin, the husband had stayed home after working an exhausting 18 hour shift at work. when they pulled him out everyone was in complete shock. i lost it. i didn't even know the family but just thinking of how terrible it would be to be in their situation made me cry. the firemen told catia, kevin's wife, that he was breathing when they pulled him out of the house. we saw them beginning CPR before the ambulance left however, and he died from smoke inhalation on the way to the hospital. we found out later that his body was found in the hallway...he had tried to get out but didn't make it before passing out. what made this story even more sad was the fact that the family was renting the house and had no insurance on their possessions or on kevin. we've all rallied together as a ward to give this poor lady and her two young daughters what they need to start life over again. it really makes us count our blessings and be thankful for all the many things we have.