Timberon fire destroys $130K home, homeowners did not have fire insurance

Residents forced to flee their homes are picking up the pieces six days after a fire devastated the village of Timberon.

The fire is now 80 percent contained and firefighters are allowing residents to return to their homes.

It has been an emotional day for many. “We worked so hard for this, and then overnight, it’s gone,” said Eloytta Hernandez.

Eloytta and her husband, Daniel Hernandez, were relatively calm as they looked at what used to be their home for the very first time since the wildfire burned it down. They sifted through the rubble with their great grandchildren.

They did not witness the fire that destroyed their livelihood. The couple was out of town visiting relatives when they got the heartbreaking news.

“It really didn’t hit us until we stopped at Cloudcroft and they told us our house was one of the ones completely burned down,” Eloytta said.

The Hernandez family had just moved into their new permanent home this May. Monday, Eloytta reflected on her loss while looking at photos of the day they moved in with the help of their daughter.

The family’s $130-thousand dollar home was not insured.

Despite a long financial road ahead, families like the Hernandez’s say they’re just lucky to be alive and plan to rebuild.

“That’s life, that’s all we can do. Thank God we’re alive and everything is fine,” Daniel said.

The fire burned 44 homes to the ground, 70 structures overall.