PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A Port Arthur family was left reeling after a fire and multiple explosions destroyed their home on the 6400 block of Garnet Avenue Monday.
Dustin Tompkins says that while napping Monday afternoon he was awakened by the sounds of multiple explosions throughout his home. The ensuing flames quickly spread throughout the house and left it a total loss.
The fire appeared to have started in the garage where several propane tanks were also stored.
Tompkins says that three generations of his family and and over 30 foster children grew up in the house.
Both Tompkins and his mother were in the home at the time of the explosions.
After hearing the explosions Tompkins sprang into action. He rushed to get his mother out of the house and then attempted to extinguish the fire, but said was spreading too quickly.
Tompkins sustained minor injuries during his efforts to put out the fire, but says he has lost everything in the explosions and resulting flames.
"Everything is burnt up. T.V. is melted, Windows are blown out," said Lorie Fuller, Dustin's Sister who also lived in the house.
Fuller says that she had lunch at the house before returning to work just an hour before the explosions.
"It scared me to death, but since she (her mother) called me I knew that she was okay, and my brother was okay," said Fuller.
Fuller says that while all but a small fraction of their possessions went up in smoke, the memories of their home will remain with her.
"We used to throw the biggest crawfish boils at Easter and have the best time. Chairs and tables all back here with toys and candy for the kids to hunt,"
Sadly the family is still searching for their cat who Tompkins was unable to find amidst the initial chaos following the explosions.
"No luck so far. She's old. We've had her for about seventeen years," said Fuller, "The dog ran loose, and we finally found him".
Later Port Arthur firefighters arrived and worked diligently to put out the flames. They say that the fire spread quickly through the attic and throughout the rest of the house.
As the family continues to rummage through the ashes for anything salvageable, the rest family turned out to support them.
"it makes a difference having everybody here," said Fuller.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.