IRVINGTON, Ill. — A family of 11 is picking up the pieces tonight after a fire destroyed their home and church.
Tucked away in rural northwest Jefferson County, Illinois, many people have never heard of the community of Cravat.
Over the last 30 years, Andrea Cisco raised her family here.
“I’ve had 10 of my own,” said Andrea Cisco.
“I’ve been in this house since I was 5,” said Dokie Cisco.
The very same house where the Cisco family started a church that became a home for those without one.
“Her family stepped up and helped me any way that they could all the time,” said Ashley Dorris.
“This is where I gave my life to the lord,” said Angela Smith.
After a Nov. 4th church function, the Ciscos started smelling smoke.
“I thought it was the stove,” said Andrea Cisco.
“My brother went downstairs and saw smoke and took off running, yelling 'fire,'” said Dokie Cisco.
The family worked to try and put out the fire. They said they couldn't use their water hose because it melted.
“The first thing I did was started getting water together,” said Dokie Cisco. “Whatever I had just trying to pour it on the fire.”
The family called 911 three times.
“I think they got lost,” said Andrea Cisco.
Irvington Fire Department is just 4 miles away.
“You could see it down the road,” said Dorris.
However, the call was initially dispatched to Ashley, which is 14 miles away, and valuable minutes passed before the mistake was caught.
“By the time that they got here the fire was all the way up to the kitchen,” said Dokie Cisco.
“It happened so fast. It was engulfed in flames within 20 minutes,” said Sarey Giller.
The family of 11 lost their church, their home, their belongings and multiple pets in the fire.
“The most important thing to us was making sure everybody was safe,” said Andrea Cisco.
Despite the mix-up dispatching fire crews, the Ciscos don’t place any blame.
“It was horrible but there was nothing they could do,” said Andrea Cisco.
The Cisco family does have insurance. It could take some time for the 11 members of their family to get back on their feet.
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