Family of 11 loses everything in house fire

WHITE OAK, Mo. -- A Tuesday fire destroyed a home in White Oak, leaving a family of 11 without shelter or possessions.

The blaze, which is being investigated, broke out shortly after 12:30 p.m. at 21051 Highway 153 in White Oak. Capt. Scott Tutor of the Kennett, Missouri, Fire Department said the blaze appeared to have started in a bedroom.

Two residents who were at home at the time, 32-year-old Maria Segura and her 4-year-old son, Matthew, escaped without injury. She told officers she heard a "pop" in that room, ran in to see smoke and flames, and immediately called 911.

Tutor said when police arrived, heavy smoke and flames were coming from the house. Kennett officers and members of the Holcomb, Missouri, Fire Department battled the blaze for a little more than three hours, and had to return to the site that afternoon to deal with continuing hot spots. Tutor said the home was considered a total loss.

The house is owned by Kenny Jenkins of Kennett. Segura and her husband, 31-year-old Steven, were buying the home from Jenkins in a rent-to-own arrangement.

She said they were close to paying off the property. The couple has lived there the past five to six years with nine children: Matthew; Erik Ortega, 6; Marcelino Rodriguez, 7; Juan Rodriguez, 8; Natalie Rodriguez, 9; Kayla Rodriguez, 10; Erika Rodriguez, 11; Arnoldo Ortega, 15; and Juan Garcia, 16.

While the building was insured, the family had no insurance for contents. They lost everything except for clothing hanging on the clothesline in the backyard. Steven Segura drove in from his job in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, when notified about the fire.

All the family's children attend school in Holcomb, and Matthew was scheduled to begin preschool there this week.

The Seguras said they would like to stay in Holcomb so their children can continue classes there. The school district has helped provide the family with emergency supplies until the parents can find a new home. They are staying with friends.