HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — A Hopewell woman was in the shower when she realized flames were tearing through home Monday morning.
“I was getting ready to take my shower this morning and the lights went out, and I thought I hadn’t paid the bill, but I had, and I went to the living room and I saw a light on and I thought a breaker had broken or tripped and then I could smell something and I ran into the kitchen and the whole wall was on fire,” said Cecilia Johnson, who was home when the fire broke out.
With the fire spreading, Johnson knew she had to make a decision.
“I was scared to death,” she said. “Should I stay and fight it? And then something said, ‘no, don’t try and stay and fight it,’ so I ran out and started hollering for help. I left my phone and everything. I just panicked but I got out alive.”
The fire got so big, fire fighters blocks away saw the smoke as soon as they received the call.
“We knew we had a house fire,” said Fire Chief Donny Hunter.
Now, Johnson along with her family are thankful for small things that have been saved, like a family bible and a baptismal gown that was worn just yesterday as her grandson was baptized. But, it’s the big thing that everyone here says is nothing short of a miracle.
“The big thing, I’m alive. It’s wonderful to be alive,” said Johnson.
Yesterday was also Cecilia Johnson’s birthday. She says she is very thankful for all the people who came to her aid, from neighbors to people just driving by who stopped to make sure she got out alright.
