For the third time in fifteen months members of the Mull family are sifting through the rubble of a fire.
The latest fire broke out Friday at Billy and Shililah Mull’s house on Tiger Paw Drive near Clarkesville. It was during the height of Winter Storm Jonas and temperatures were freezing. The couple says they left a wood burning stove and two space heaters running when they left with their grandson to check on an accident on nearby Sutton Mill Road. They then went to pick up their granddaughter from a friend’s house. That’s where they were when they got the call that their house was on fire.
Five minutes away, the Mulls rushed back home with their two grandchildren. “We get here and the fire department’s already here because they were working the wreck, so, they were pretty close by,” says Shililah.
Habersham County Fire Chief Jeff Cain says, “We had a truck on the scene within two to three minutes of the initial alarm.” Cain says when units arrived the wood structure was already heavily involved. Firefighters from Habersham County, Clarkesville and Lee Arrendale State Prison responded to the call. They were able to contain the blaze but the house was a total loss.
“I lived there my whole life, all but two years,” says Billy. “It wasn’t much but it was all we had and it will be dearly missed.”
In addition to losing their house and belongings, the Mulls lost a family pet. Shililah says she left their Chihuahua Cookie in the bedroom where it was warm. They were unable to reach the dog because of the flames. Firefighters did manage to rescue a small kitten.
Initial media reports pointed to a space heater as the probable cause of the fire but the State Fire Marshal’s Office says the cause has not been determined. It remains under investigation.
Another year, another tragedy
This is the latest in a string of fires to strike the Mull family in recent years. In October 2014 their son lost his mobile home in a fire. This past February Billy’s parents’ lost their house.
READ: Habersham Couple Devastated by Fire
The Mull’s grandkids, 11-year old Lily and 9-year old Billy, have lived through all three fires and their great-grandparents say it’s taken a toll. Randy Mull says his great-grandson asked him Friday, “Why does everything burn?”
Dorothy Mull says the kids have lost something in each house fire but this time they lost even more. They live with their grandparents and in Friday’s fire they lost their home, their dog, their clothes, even their Christmas gifts and the presents little Billy received on his recent birthday. Still, Shililah says of the kids, “They seem to be taking it better than expected.” She and her husband, too, are coping with this latest tragedy, sad for what they have lost but grateful for what they still have. “As long as we got each other we got everything,” he says.
Family overwhelmed by community support
Help for the family is pouring in from throughout Habersham County and beyond. An online GoFundMe account for the Mulls has raised over $15,000 since Friday. Shililah says they’ll use the money to buy a mobile home.
A community fundraiser is scheduled this Thursday. It will be held January 28 at PaPa John’s Pizza in Cornelia.
The family also is accepting donations of household goods and clothes in the following sizes:
- Girl’s 10/12 pants and shirts, shoes size 5
- Boy’s shirts large 14 and pants 12 husky, shoes size 5
- Women’s size large shirts, 3/4 pants, shoes size 7
- Men’s 30/32 pants, shirts small/medium, shoes size 9
Donations may be dropped off at 182 Tiger Paw Drive, Clarkesville, GA 30523 or call 706-949-4942 to make other arrangements.
The Mulls say they’ve been overwhelmed by the community’s support and the generosity of strangers. “I woke up in tears this morning from just all the help that we received and all the caring thoughts,” says Shililah. “It’s more than you can imagine.”
Billy adds simply, “Thank everyone. Thank ya’ll so much.”
