The city of Trenton is moving quickly to help the Middlebrooks family who lost their home to a fast-moving house fire early today.
They are grateful for the assistance, but the family says the main thing is they all survived.
It was around 2 a.m and the Middlebrooks family were asleep.
When suddenly they got an unexpected alarm.
BRANDON MIDDLEBROOKS "Our dog Maggie, she's here somewhere..was running...on the porch..running back and forth barking and woke us up."
A huge fire had developed outside the home in the Piney section of Trenton.
BRANDON MIDDLEBROOKS "My dad came running through the house ..Trying to get us all together. And we ran outside and as he closed the door it fell off the hinges...it was already burning."
Fire units arrived quickly but within minutes the home was destroyed and a nearby home was damaged by the intense heat.
So far no cause has been determined.
But 16 year old Brandon, his 13 year sister Emma....dad Daniel, a teacher in Chattanooga...and mother Sonya..the Dade county school nurse..lost everything. They are staying with relatives tonight.
SHAWN TOBIN "Sonya and her family are so good to our community."BUMP "people keep coming in and calling and saying 'how can we help out the Middlebrooks..they're good people."
BRANDON MIDDLEBROOKS "Honestly, in our minds we never, in our minds never thought it would ever happen to us..you know you always have that thought in your mind that won't happen to me ..But after this, its a very serious thing."
SHAWN TOBIN, DADE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS "I think because of their strong faith, they realize thank goodness..we're all here."
BRANDON MIDDLEBROOKS "We're just thankful we all four got out ....This stuff, through this kind of a tragedy we can see this stuff doesn't matter. "
Proceeds from a Monday night school music program will go to the family, along with cash donated at schools and businesses throughout the city.
Superintendent Tobin says people began showing up early today at the high school with clothing and household items.
He says the community is showing its concern.
