The belongings of one Richmond Hill woman were turned to ashes Friday morning after a fire destroyed her Daniel Siding Loop Road home.
“By the time the fire department got here, the whole house was on fire — it was engulfed in flames,” said Danielle Floyd, the daughter of homeowner Beverly Floyd.
“The fire department told us because the house is 70 years old — my granddad … built the house — it burned so fast like lighter fluid was on it. It burned to pieces, she don’t have nothing,” Danielle Floyd said of her mother.
For nearly four hours, firefighters from both the Bryan County Fire Department and the Richmond Hill Fire Department worked to get the blaze under control, according to Bryan County Fire Chief Otis Willis. But in the end, he said, they were unable to save the home.
“We’re still trying to determine (a cause), but it appears to be accidental,” Willis said. “There’s no indication of any suspicious activity, so we’re pretty certain it was accidental.”
Beverly Floyd was at home when the blaze started just after 2 a.m. She awoke when she heard a loud pop and found her living room and kitchen area filled with smoke. Willis said officials believe this is where the blaze started.
Willis said Beverly Floyd and her dog made it safely out of the home with no injuries. However, two pet birds inside the home were killed, he said.
“It looks like (the birds) were overcome by smoke inhalation,” Willis said.
Danielle Floyd said the only thing salvaged from the fire was a box of old family photos.
No other homes were damaged by the fire, Willis said, but Beverly Floyd’s car, which was in the driveway, was also destroyed. Willis said Floyd had no insurance.
“We couldn’t have insurance on the house because we were in the process of remodeling and the insurance company, the way my nana had it, we couldn’t transfer it to my mom’s name,” Danielle Floyd said. “So we were waiting.”
The American Red Cross was on hand by mid-morning to assist Beverly Floyd with getting back on her feet. An account also has been set up at Bryan Bank and Trust to benefit the family. Donations can be made to the Beverly Smith Floyd Donation Fund at either Richmond Hill location or at any Savannah Bank location.