GUEYDAN, La. (KLFY) — Monica Gums and her 9-year-old daughter are trying to rise from the ashes after losing everything in a house fire two days before Christmas. 

Gums recalled the events that led up to the incident, saying it started when she left her home to check on her brother.

“I was in the house to begin cooking and I got a phone call that my brother hit a ditch in front my house. I went out to go and check up on him to make sure he was okay and not even 5 minutes later, my aunt turned a corner and started screaming (that) my house was on fire,” said Gums. “When I turned around, I mean, it was already up in smoke. By the time I got to my driveway, the windows started busting out and we watched the flame go from the kitchen all the way to the back room. Everything in the home was lost.”

James Guidry, a friend of the family, recalled calling Gums before learning her house burned down. He said it took him by surprise, and he wanted to help so he helped set up a GoFundMe account for her and her daughter. Gums and her daughter said they are staying in their business shop next door for the time being. 

“For stability we have that within the home,” said Gums. “So, the only thing is trying to get our house back together to have a peace of mind and, you know, get our living state back together but we’re making do with what we have right now.”

Gums said the structure that is left will most likely be stripped and rebuilt.

“I’ll do my best to make it safe and secure for me and my child. I mean, at the time of the fire, we weren’t home. My child was next door to my neighbors getting their hair done. Just that quick. We lost it all,” she said. 

March 8 at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. there will be a barbecue benefit to help the family raise money to rebuild their home. Plates will be $12 and can be picked up in Gueydan at Sarah’s corner shop. 

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