WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind., (WTWO/WAWV)– On Friday morning, the Wilkie family’s dog, Zena, began making an unusual noise to alert Steven and Michelle Wilkie that something was wrong.
“At around 5:30 a.m. my dog decided to bark and I was telling them to shut up because they normally bark and we realized it wasn’t a normal bark. When we got up we noticed the house next door was on fire,” said Steven Wilkie.
Michelle Wilkie said their first instinct was to get their kids out the house, especially their one-year-old.
“His room was the closest to the outer wall. The way the house was set up his room kind of set out further than the rest of the rooms. My first instinct is to run down the hall and get them,” she said.
After talking with Sugar Creek Fire Department, they learned that they couldn’t save their home.
Steven said he’s had a hard time dealing with their new reality.
“This just breaks my heart to see my family going through what we are going through. I have no idea what we’re going to do from one day to the next right now. It’s hard. I’ve never really had to go through this. I’ve never been through a fire in my life. I’ve never had to start all over,” he said.
They said Zena is the true hero in this unfortunate situation.
“Clothes and stuff like that you know all that stuff is material things. That’s replaceable. But my babies you know they’re lives aren’t replaceable. And thank god for my dog. Thank god for her,” she said.
The Wilkie family is now focused on rebuilding their lives. Click here to find out more about how you can help.
