DETROIT – For Willie and Portland Huling, life changed instantly as the home they had lived in for more than 20 years, located on Grixdale Farms near Veach Street on Detroit’s northeast side, was consumed by flames.
The fire, which occurred on Friday (Nov. 22), started in a neighboring house and quickly spread, leaving the Hulings with little more than the clothes on their backs.
“Be thankful for what you have,” Willie Huling said. “Because it can be gone in an instant.”
The chaos began with a deafening sound.
“We heard a swoosh,” said Portland Huling.
Then panic set in.
“My daughter was running up and down the street hollering, ‘Somebody help us! Somebody help us!’” Portland said.
The fire quickly spread to their home and nearby trees and power lines.
Portland described the scene: “Boom and it was like an instant freaking real fire. House was on fire, trees were on fire, wires on fire.”
When the fire department arrived, Portland pleaded with them: “Save my house; we have nowhere to live. That’s all. Save our house,” she begged. “And they’re like, ‘We’re doing the best we can.’”
But the damage was already done. Inside, clothes, furniture, family photos —24 years of memories.
“Everything we own,” Portland said, devastated.
“It’s hard to wake up some mornings,” Willie said. “Because you’re thinking, what’s next?”
With no insurance, the Hulings’ future is up in the air. They’re grateful to have found temporary housing this Thanksgiving, but their long-term plans remain unclear:
“We just don’t know,” Willie said.
Amid the devastation, they found reasons to be thankful however. A partially collapsed roof narrowly missed their grandchildren, sparing lives.
“I’m just so grateful to God that we got out,” Portland said. “They got out, so I’m not gonna complain about it because there’s always somebody worse off than you.”
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