Community Corner

Family Safe But Most of Home Contents Destroyed in Sunday Fire

The Hansens and their five children escaped unharmed thanks to the persistent barking of their 5-month-old puppy, but the Peachtree Corners home's contents were ruined.

The Hansen family, whose family dog is credited with saving the seven people inside their Peachtree Corners home when a fire broke out in the garage, has lost most everything in the blaze.

After the fire, Mark, Michelle and their five children returned to collect their belongings assuming that because the fire had been contained to the garage, the rest of the house had been spared. But when they walked in the door they were faced with reality.

"We anticipated some smoke damage but nothing too bad," wrote Emily Bruso, Michelle Hansen's sister-in-law on a GiveForward web page. "What we found in the house was dare I say, shocking.

"I think if we are all honest we were a bit (or a lot) discouraged by what we found. Almost everything, (while still intact) has been lost to the fire. We are all grateful that the pictures and items that hold memories will be recoverable, but we were stunned by how much will not be recoverable. Between the smoke and water damage the Hansens family will basically need to start from scratch, she wrote."

The fire also destroyed a vehicle that was parked inside the garage.

Efforts are underway to help the family. A GiveForward web page has been set up where donations can be made. In addition a Facebook page has been set up for the Hansen family. 

Listed on the Facebook page are the clothing needs and sizes of each of the family members; Mark and Michelle and their five children, Micah, Sophie, Kimber, Marcus, Donavan. Two of the children Kimber and Donovan attend Norcross High School.

Northlands Church, where the family attends, is accepting donations to help the family. The church is located at 6630 Bay Circle Drive in Peachtree Corners. They've created a list of furniture needs with a contact person and location for the donations.

Mark Hansen said it was their 5-month-old puppy who alerted them to the fire. "Maybe he could smell it," Hansen said in a Fox5 New report. "The first thought I had was to get the kids out and call 911."

Hansen said that without the puppy's warning the outcome would have likely been very different.

The family was told by the fire marshal that the fire alarms had not started going off because the smoke had not penetrated the house at that point. And if their little dog had not awakened them "they would have all been killed."

Read also:

Young Dog Alerts Family to Early Morning Blaze

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