Coleman man living in shed after fire destroys house

COLEMAN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – After a devastating fire reduced a home to ashes Sunday night in Coleman, one man is now left with no choice but to live in a shed on the property, with nowhere else to turn.

The fire began less than an hour after the occupant left. Chief Jimmy Watson of the Coleman Fire Department said the structure was unsavable when they arrived on the scene.

“In this instance, the occupant staying in the house had left 45 minutes prior, with no one else inside the residence, which is why nobody noticed it until the fire grew pretty large. When somebody noticed it, called it in, and read it to the system, our units got out. It was going pretty good,” Watson said.

On the night of the fire, neighbor Desiree Hall recounted hearing the commotion and being shocked by what she saw — and felt — when she opened her door.

“Just heard some commotion and yelling, and then it was going on for a minute,” Hall said. “I look outside, and this house is just in flames, and I just opened my door, and I could feel the heat.”

Now, resident Nathan Strength is living in a shed on the property where his house once stood. Strength, who suffered a stroke a few years ago, also lives with a speech impediment. His neighbor, Michelle De La Cruz, has been doing her best to support him during this difficult time.

“We’ve been checking on him. We’ve been bringing him food and blankets, and there have been other people who have been coming and bringing him food. But that’s not enough,” De La Cruz said. “You help regardless of who they are. Regardless of what their last name is.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Donations for Strength can be dropped off at 514 San Saba Street.