Vacation Trip Turns Into Nightmare as House Burns, Pets Die, Looters Arrive
A vacation trip to Minnesota turned into a nightmare for 61-year-old Kathy Evans.
She left for St. Paul last Tuesday and since then four of her cats died, her dog ran off, fire gutted her house and looters scavenged the remains.
The series of disasters began Wednesday night when flames spread quickly from the center to the front of Evans’ small, wood-frame house in northeast Detroit.
Detroit fire officials said the blaze, which killed the cats, is listed as suspicious. Neighbors said firefighters responded quickly but were unable to prevent major damage.
The next morning, looters removed the front storm door of the house and stole Evans’ jewelry.
Evans, who has lived alone since her husband’s death last year, learned what happened Thursday. She cut her vacation short and was returning by bus.
In an effort to cushion the blow, neighbors and friends spent Thursday boarding up the home, burying the pets and salvaging what they could.
James Chambers, a longtime friend, said Evans does not have insurance.
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