On Saturday, Dec.26th, the day after Christmas, Pasco County Fire Rescue responded to the Tuscano at Suncoast Apartment Complex for a reported fire. Firefighters arrived at a three-story apartment complex with heavy fire and smoke coming from the second and third floors. The incident called for a second alarm due to the fire load and the number of evacuations needed.
Pasco County Fire Rescue Investigators determined the cause to be from illegal grilling on a second-floor apartment’s balcony. That fire extended to the third floor and into the roof of the apartment building.
15-families were displaced from the fire.
Meet Zach Williams, a husband, father, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue 911 dispatcher, and one of the 15-families that lost everything the day after Christmas.
Zach, his wife, and children ran to Target to pick up a gift for a birthday party they were to go to. While at Target, a neighbor called and informed Zach of the fire.
“I ran over here (to the apartment) as quick as I could, and saw everything up in smoke,” said Williams.
The family lost everything, except for some pictures and a wedding ring, Williams said.
“My heart breaks for them. My son is tough, he is a devoted father & husband, he works for Hillsborough County Fire & Rescue as a 911 dispatcher, he is conditioned to dealing with tragedy… but overcoming the personal loss of absolutely everything you own and have acquired over your life and all of your children’s belongings gone in an instant… not to mention all of the kids Christmas gifts. This is going to be one of the biggest challenges of his life,” said Zach’s Mother, Kelly Wilson.
“They need all of the support that they can possibly receive to start their lives over, all they have left are the clothes they had on,” Wilson added.
A gofundme page was started to help this young family and in just 2-days raised over $21,000. “The community support has been overwhelming,” said Wilson, “People care.”
If you would like to help Williams family, you can visit the gofundme fundraiser by visiting, https://www.gofundme.com/f/young-family-of-4-lose-everything-in-apt-fire?qid=8995e46ca24dc9714278965ff8cb5910