COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Megan and Will Carter stood in front of their home on Ballantrae Drive in Colleyville. Several windows were boarded up. Those that remained were stained by the smoke, and the roof damage showed how immense the fire was.
“It’s so surreal,” said Megan.
The smell of the house fire lingered in the air on New Year's day.
“It’s something that I think is gonna stick with us for a long time,” Megan said.
On Dec. 30, the Colleyville couple was on a staycation in Dallas. Their two young boys were with their grandparents, who live just down the street from them.
The Carters' home was vacant for the weekend.
That’s when phone calls from their neighbor started pouring in.
“She goes, ‘Honey, I don’t know if you know this, but your house is on fire,’” Megan recalled.
Their home of 10 years was engulfed in flames after a fire began in the children’s playroom. Before neighbors became aware, the flames spread to the attic and covered the entire home.
The Colleyville Fire Department said the cause of the fire is still unknown
“Everyone has setbacks in life,” Will said. “This is one that nobody thinks is every gonna [sic] happen to them.”
The Colleyville Fire Department, along with several surrounding fire departments battled the flames, but according to the Carters, the home is a total loss.
Their children’s art that hung on the refrigerator is gone, along with their Christmas presents, family ornaments and other heirlooms.
The Carters were relieved to discover that their family photo albums survived.
Since no one was home when the fire broke out, the family and their dogs are all safe.
“All the big stuff, it doesn’t matter,” Megan said. I feel like we’re gonna look at life a lot different.”
That’s because of what happened immediately after the fire.
Friends and neighbors rolled up their sleeves and began cleaning up. They dropped off meals and donated clothing. Their friends launched a GoFundMe page and the community raised more than $30,000 to help the Carters’ recover.
The couple, who is heavily involved in the school community, wept as they shared the story of their community’s generosity.
“It’s crazy,” Will said. “That’s the biggest thing that gets me more emotional, just all of our friends and all that people are willing to do without even asking.”
It’s not how they pictured the start of a new year, but what matters most is suddenly clear.
“Even with something this unlucky, we’re still so fortunate to have our family and friends and community,” Will said.
Friends, neighbors, and even strangers have continued dropping off essential items, meals, and even Christmas presents at Megan’s parent’s home, where the family is temporarily living.
Megan told WFAA there are simply too many people to thank.
“To those that washed our clothes, thank you. To those that donated, thank you. To those that brought us food… I wish I could thank each and every single person. It’s been such an outpouring, it’s impossible,” Megan said.
The Carters said they expect their insurance to cover the rebuilding of their home.
“We love this house and this community,” Will said.
They don’t have any plans to leave the community that has offered physical and emotional support during a time when the family needs it most.