‘We need to get out’: Burton father recounts fallen tree that destroyed his family’s home
Ellis Davis has rented his home on Alexandra Loop with his wife, two daughters and two grandchildren for five years and has passed the large tree in his yard every day. He never thought it would come crashing down on them.
“It’s a large, old oak tree,” Davis said. “It’s probably a hundred years old.”
Around 6:30 a.m. Monday, while the rest of his family slept, the tree did just that. At the time, Davis was getting out of bed to get ready for his first day at a new job, he said.
“As I was sitting there, getting ready to get up and go to the bathroom, I heard that wind come through real loud and strong,” Davis said. “And when that happened, I heard something started cracking and that’s when (it happened).”
The tree, he said, had essentially “cut the home in half” and moved it off the foundation. Its branches had gone through the ceiling.
“At that time, my main concern was to get my family out of the house,” Davis said. “We need to get out of this house before it catches on fire!”
The tree had gone through the ceiling of his living room and kitchen, he said. Both the front and back doors were blocked and so was the window in his bedroom. The only way out, Davis said, was through a front window. The family of six climbed one by one out of the window in their pajamas, grabbing just a few throw blankets from the living room on their way out.
The Davis family is staying with family, but it is “crowded,” he said. They were able to get back in the house yesterday just to grab a few of their possessions, but not everything.
The American Red Cross is assisting them to get basic necessities and has been a great help, he said. The family has started a GoFundMe account to help them start over and find a new place to live.
“I’m glad it didn’t land on the (bed)rooms,” Davis said. “I just thank God it didn’t start a fire and that no one was hurt.”
.jpg "BurtonFD_Alexandra Loop_010322 (1).jpg")
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 4:31 PM.
