Early Morning Fire Destroys Three Top Residence

By Allison Canter

The Milam family of the Three Top community in Creston lost their home and all of their belongings when a fire

completely destroyed their home on Saturday, Nov. 22.

"I woke up some where around 4:50 on Saturday morning and I just happened to see a glow outside," said Jody Milam, owner of the home.

"At first I thought my vehicle was on fire, but then I realized it was the house, burning on the outside."

Milam, who could not walk due to an injured foot, had his cell phone beside him and made a call to 911 at 4:55 a.m. Two hunters that were in the area also called 911. The two unknown hunters helped some family members get Milam out of the house. "I don't know who the hunters were, but I do want them to know how much they are appreciated. I truly believe that they were my guardian angels," Milam said.

According to the Chief of the Creston Fire Department, Darrell Graybeal, both Creston and Todd Fire Departments were dispatched to the fire. "We got to the scene very quickly, thinking someone could still be inside. When the first responders and fire departments arrived at the scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames but the father and his son were both out."

Milam's 13 year old son, Tyler, was also home at the time of the fire, but he also escaped without injury. Milam has two other children that live at the home: a son, Jeremiah age 11 and a daughter, Taylor, age seven, but neither were home at the time of the fire.

"I'm glad that my youngest son, Jeremiah, and daughter, Taylor, were gone to stay the night with their grandmother in Mountain City, Tennessee. If they would have been here, they would probably have suffocated from the smoke, because of where they usually sleep."

Milam and his family were very grateful to the community response and outreach during this tramautic time. "I would also like to say a very special thank you and God bless you to every friend, neighbor, organization, church and every one else that has helped me so far with all this. It could have been so much worse and we just thank God that it wasn't. We can replace our material things but we can not replace lives," said Milam.

"The cause of the fire is believed to be the flue which was just recently built," said Graybeal. We haven't responded to many house fires so far this year, but with the cooler weather coming, we may see some more before this year is over."

Jody is the son of Joe and Patty Walton Milam. Monetary donations may be mailed to Attn: Jody Milam Family, 2834 Three Top Road, Creston, NC 28615.

If anyone would like to donate any items to the Milam family, they can call (336) 385-6282.