Huddled with their great-grandchildren near the warmth of a wood stove in their son’s home, Randy and Dorothy Mull reflect on the devastating loss of their own home just hours earlier.
They were both in their house on Tiger Paw Drive around 2pm Thursday when Randy walked through the kitchen and saw smoke billowing from behind the kitchen stove. Dorothy, who was in another part of the house, recalls that frightening moment. “He went through the kitchen and yelled something and I run in there and it was a fire,” she says wearily. “We tried to put it out. We couldn’t get it out.”
With the help of nearby family and neighbors the couple managed to grab a few clothes and save a few precious items – Randy’s mom’s Bible and a box full of mementos of their daughter who died – but beyond that, Dorothy says, “We lost it all.”
The fire spread quickly through the wooden frame house. The smoke cloud covered the North Georgia Technical College campus near Clarkesville. Flames shot through the roof and threatened to catch low-hanging branches and nearby structures on fire but Habersham County firefighters quickly responded. Downed power lines in the front yard hampered their efforts. They also had to contend with gusty winds and sub-freezing temperatures. It was a brutal task but they kept the fire from spreading.
One unit was kept on the scene until late into the evening to make sure the fire didn’t reignite. By 7:45pm the last fire truck pulled out, leaving behind the charred, smoldering remains of the Mull’s belongings and homeplace.
The Mulls had lived in the house for fifteen years. Randy’s not sure how the fire started but believes it was electrical. “I reckon something shorted out or something. It was an old house,” he says with tears welling up in his eyes. Initial family accounts indicated Randy was burned trying to put out the blaze but he says he wasn’t. He and Dorothy both escaped without physical injury. The emotional injury, however, has taken a toll on the couple and their entire family.
This is the second fire in four months the Mull family has suffered. Randy and Dorothy’s grandson lost his nearby trailer in October. His mom, Shililah Mull, says Thursday’s events brought back harrowing memories and has left her in-laws nearly destitute. Randy and Dorothy are both on disability. “It’s heartbreaking because with their income it’s hard for them to get the stuff that they need,” says Shililah. “Right now they’re just bunkering down with us until we get ’em some sort of a home situated back.”
How you can help
A special fund has been set up to help the Mulls. Donations may be made to the Mull Fire Relief Fund at Southern Bank and Trust in Clarkesville. A GoFund me account has also been set up online in Dorothy Mull’s name.
In addition to financial donations, the Mulls could use donations of clothes, coats, personal hygiene items, household goods like pillows and blankets and even dentures (Dorothy Mull lost hers in the fire). Their clothing sizes are as follows:
Randy
- 38/32 men’s jeans
- Large or extra-large shirts
- Size 8.5 shoes
Dorothy
- Size 1-3 pants
- Small shirts
- Size 6 shoes
Donations may be dropped off directly at the Mull family home located at 182 Tiger Paw Drive, Clarkesville, the 197 Auto Service Center on Sutton Mill Road in Clarkesville (about a quarter of a mile off of Hwy. 197 North) OR at Purcell’s Christmas Tree Farm located at 1581 Hwy. 197 North Clarkesville (directly across from North Georgia Technical College).
Shililah says the family is looking to set up house again for Randy and Dorothy near the couple’s burned homesite. “We’re trying to find a trailer that we can fit into our budget to get ’em out there ’cause there wasn’t any insurance on the home and that was the unfortunate part of it all. So, it’s going to be a matter of time getting that set up where we can get ’em a home again but, until that, they’re stuck with us.”
Stuck with family and a community that cares. Since the fire broke out, hundreds have contacted Now Habersham for information about how they can help. The needs listed above are a good start. The Mulls say they’re touched by the outpouring of community support and concern. A devastated but thankful Randy Mull fights back tears as he offers three simple words to those who have shown such compassion, “I appreciate it.” Dorothy echoes that sentiment and adds, “I just thank everybody and, God bless everybody, and we know the Lord’s looking after us. He always has.”
