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A home and several vehicles in the 200 block of 28th St. were destroyed overnight in a fire that Brandon Police are treating as arson. The owners of the home escaped the fire without any injuries.
Police have determined that a fire that gutted a city home was the work of an arsonist.
But the fire that destroyed Sherri Ferguson’s family home seemed to have been a random act — she says they can’t think of anyone who would target them.
"Police have certainly questioned us in that line. However, you know we just can’t think of anybody that would want to do that to us," Ferguson said. "I don’t think we have any enemies that I know about."
Ferguson, her husband Bryan and their two daughters Cassie, 20, and Renee, 9, were forced to flee their burning home early Wednesday morning.
The family escaped unscathed with two of their pets — their dog Rolo and cat Simba — but another cat, Maddie, perished.
The fire in the 200-block of 28th Street broke out around 2 a.m., and the house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.
The home, built in the 1950s by Sherri’s parents, was described as a total loss.
Police said on Wednesday that the fire appeared to have start in the car port and on Thursday they said that investigators had determined it was deliberately set.
A jerry can was found at the scene and Ferguson said it appears that one of the family cars was doused with gasoline and set alight.
Gas had been poured around the convertible, which was parked in the car port and onto its "soft top" roof.
The fire spread to the family’s other three cars and from the car port to the attached home.
Ferguson has heard that the can of gas may have been stolen out of a garage during one of a number of break-ins in the area.
However, the gas wasn’t taken during one of these break-ins in the area, which police say happened during the same night as the fire.
Police haven’t ruled out the possibility that the burglaries, which seem to be linked to each other, may be linked to the blaze.
Someone entered a garage on the 2200-block of Rosser Avenue and stole a bike that was recovered down the block.
Police also found a satellite radio stolen during a break-in to a car parked on the same block.
That is believed to be linked to a third break-in to a shed on the 100-block of 21st Street. A number of items, including a fishing knife and shears, were taken, although the knife was recovered on the 2300-block of Rosser Avenue.
In another case, would-be burglars who tried to enter a garage in the 00-block of 24th Street were chased off by a dog. A vehicle in the driveway was also entered but nothing was taken.
No arrests have been made for the break-ins or the fire.
Meanwhile, the Fergusons have toured their burned house with insurance officials and a restoration company and there’s hope that some of it can be saved when they rebuild their home.
"The home was built in the ’50s and the structure is very, very good so perhaps we can save some of it," Ferguson said.
So far, the family has managed to salvage some valuables, including precious family photos and some jewelery.
However, there were a number of items that couldn’t be saved, including some that belonged to Ferguson’s mom, who passed away a year and a half ago.
"I have some special things of hers that were in there and I won’t get those back now," Ferguson said, her voice breaking.
On the bright side, friends, family and co-workers have rallied to support the family, which is staying at their Clear Lake cabin.
There have been calls of support, and donations of food and clothing. Young Renee’s schoolmates have brought her clothing, stuffed toys, games and books.
Ferguson estimated that it will be a year before they will be able to move into any rebuilt or newly constructed home.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition June 15, 2012
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Police have determined that a fire that gutted a city home was the work of an arsonist.
But the fire that destroyed Sherri Ferguson’s family home seemed to have been a random act — she says they can’t think of anyone who would target them.
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Police have determined that a fire that gutted a city home was the work of an arsonist.
But the fire that destroyed Sherri Ferguson’s family home seemed to have been a random act — she says they can’t think of anyone who would target them.
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