published: Friday, September 28, 2012

Car wash to help family burned out of their home

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- On Aug. 11, Ashley and Adam Ramsey were settling into bed in their mobile home. Ashley Ramsey's 3-year-old son was spending the weekend with his father.

Adam Ramsey turned to his wife and asked if she smelled smoke. She did.

They both went to investigate and found the kitchen full of black smoke.

Adam Ramsey had been frying chicken wings earlier in the evening. It appeared he had mistakenly turned the burner on high, instead of off as he intended. The pot of cooking oil was the source of the thick smoke.

Reacting reflexively, Ramsey, who was only dressed in boxer shorts, grabbed the handle of the pot and went to throw it outside. He slipped on the floor, however, and fell. The oil spilled all over him and "poofed," as his wife said, into flames.

Even without clothes to catch fire, Ramsey sustained second- and third-degree burns. Then the house itself burst into flames, burning to the ground. The Ramseys lost everything with a single exception -- despite his burns, on their way out of their home, Ramsey went back and rescued their dog, who had been in his crate.

Family have taken them in, but things have grown worse in the weeks since. Without property insurance, they are not sure how to go about rebuilding their lives, especially as Ramsey has no health insurance and hasn't been able to work because of his injuries.

Ashley, who is a full-time student studying accounting at Webber International University, has had to leave school for the time being. She has no transportation, and is looking for work.

"It's been over a month," Ashley Ramsey said. "It takes a long time to recover."

The family and their friends hope the community can help.

An account has been set up for Adam and Ashley Ramsey at Heartland National Bank. Any branch can be of assistance.

Saturday their friends and family will have a fundraiser car wash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hess Station in Avon Park.