'There's nothing left'

Taylor Kreis sifted through what's left of her Sea Air Village residence Nov. 11 after a sudden fire destroyed the home where she lived with her three young children.

She found a few singed photos that she plans to keep.

“There's nothing left,” the Rehoboth resident said. “Whatever is not totally destroyed is burnt or soaked with water.”

The devastating fire took only seconds to raze the home, once owned by Kreis' grandmother and currently owned by her mother, Lauri, who lived there, too. Kreis said they also had a roommate.

They had no insurance on the home, Kreis said.

A stay-at-home mom, Kreis was calm and composed as she recalled the sudden fire night the before. She said she had been visiting with her uncle on the front porch about 7 p.m. when she went inside to put her 11-month-old son to bed.

“I heard a noise and went out there, and it was like, poof,” she said. “We had just been on the porch two minutes earlier.”

“It happened so fast that we didn't have a chance to get anything out but ourselves.”

The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire. Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael G. Chionchio estimated the damage to Kreis' home at $70,000. The family car, parked close to the home, also burned.

The blaze also damaged two neighboring homes - one is now partially gutted on the side facing Kreis' home; the other has some exterior damage. No information was available on the estimated damage to the neighboring homes.

The American Red Cross is assisting Kreis with temporary housing for a few days.

No one was hurt in the fire, but the three children - ages 11 months, 4 and 7 - have some adjusting to do, Kreis said. Her oldest son's only concern was getting his backpack and school books, she said. “I told him it'll be OK. I'm sure the school will understand.”

Kreis, a Cape High grad who grew up in the Rehoboth area, said she wants to stay in the area no matter what.

“Whatever option comes up, we'd like to stay here,” she said.

A steady line of cars drove past the burnt-out remains of the Golden Avenue home in Sea Air Village Nov. 11, many stopping to give Kreis support.

She said she wouldn't expect any less.

“I knew people would help us. That's why I love living here. People really care,” she said.

A website at www.youcaring.com/kreis is raising money and collecting clothes and items for Kreis' children.

In a Facebook post, Kreis said the children's sizes are 2T for the youngest; 7/8 in shirt and pants and a size 1 shoe for her 4-year-old son; and XL for shirts and sweats, size 16 husky pants and size 7 shoes for her 7-year-old son. Size 5 diapers and store-brand gentle formula are also needed, she said.

Items also can be dropped off at R. Sterling Hair Boutique, 18388 Coastal Highway next to Go Brit in Lewes or Sea Air Village office, Rehoboth.