‘It was raining fire on me’ | Multiple injured, including firefighters, in Lafollette house fire

LAFOLLETTE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A family in Lafollette is currently staying in a homeless shelter after a house fire last Saturday destroyed everything they own.

“I said my house is on fire get out, everybody get out,” said homeowner Catina Tidwell.

Tidwell was in the house alongside her son and two other friends who were staying at the home. Tidwell said the fire started shortly after she asked a homeless man to leave on Saturday morning.

The Lafollette Fire Department said they believe the fire started either on the front porch or near the front of the home.

Two members of the fire department and all four people inside the home were injured in the process, but all were expected to make full recoveries.

Tidwell was burned on several spots of her body after running back inside the burning home multiple times trying to wake everyone up and helping pull people out of the windows of her home.

“It was so hot, it was raining fire on me,” said Tidwell.

The home, which wasn’t insured, and everything inside was destroyed.

Four of the family dogs that were inside the home were also killed in the fire, while one of them was able to be saved.

If you’d like to donate to the family as they try to figure out their next steps, you can do so by following this link.