Two people and their family pet are now homeless, after a late night fire ripped through their home. The family was out of town when the blaze broke out. Other family members have spent Sunday trying to salvage what they can.
"I just miss the house period, because like I said this was a second home to me," said Amber Marshall.
The house off Timothy Drive has been a part of the family for more than three decades. But Saturday evening in less than 30 minutes, it was completely destroyed.
"This was my other grandmother's house," said Marshall. "And now she's gone and now her house is gone. It's just going to be real hard knowing that we can't come back here."
The house was a home away from home for Amber Marshall while growing up. The house now belongs to her Aunt and Uncle who were out of town when the blaze broke out Saturday evening.
"It was like, 'Oh my God is this really for real?' Is this really happening to us?'" said Marshall.
"At this time in the investigation you are going to start eliminating things," said Columbia Deputy Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins. "I mean you're going to look at electrical and you even look at suspicious. Everything is on the table right now."
Jenkins says firefighters worked hard to battle the blaze. But in the end there was little they could do except work to keep the fire from spreading.
"When I took a good look at the house I just broke down," said Marshall.
But Marshall is comforted with fond memories and a strong foundation, that can not be destroyed.
"All you can really do is depend on God and depend on your family," said Marshall.
What could be salvaged has been packed up as the family looks to create new memories, in a new home.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. However fire officials do not suspect foul play. Damages are estimated at $75,000.
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