TOLEDO, Ohio — A fire tore through a home in Toledo, leaving a family devastated, but thankful to be alive. The Johnson family, including 16-year-old Manny Johnson, a star basketball player at Central Catholic High School, faced an unimaginable loss after a blaze destroyed their home on Inverness Drive this past Sunday.
Manny, an elite player for the Central Catholic Fighting Irish, was away at an AAU game when the fire broke out. He received the heartbreaking news over the phone from his mother, Kellee Johnson. “He got the call that the house and his things were destroyed in the fire,” Kellee said, clearly shaken by the loss.
Kellee, along with her 19-year-old daughter, was home when the fire started. According to Kellee, the blaze began in her daughter’s room, possibly due to an electrical issue near her bed. “She yelled down and said, ‘Mom, are you cooking anything?’ and I said, ‘No,’ and she said, ‘Fire.’ Immediately, I ran upstairs, and it was already engulfed,” Kellee recalled.
In a desperate bid for safety, Kellee and her daughter fled the house, narrowly escaping the flames. Their four pets, which included a dog and three cats, were also rescued. “The dog was carried out by my daughter,” Kellee said. “We didn’t think the older cat survived, but the firefighters brought her out. She needed oxygen, but she’s alive.” The other three animals were safely kept in a part of the house that was untouched by the fire.
Despite the loss of their home and belongings, the family remains grateful for their lives. “That sign over there that’s still standing that says ‘blessed,’ because we all got out and we’re all here to tell the story. We’re going to be fine. Everything else can be replaced,” Kellee said, her voice filled with both sorrow and resilience.
Firefighters believe the blaze was sparked by an electrical malfunction, but the exact cause remains under investigation. The damage to the house was extensive, with fire and water damage throughout. Kellee Johnson expressed deep gratitude for the safety of her family and the support from the community. “It’s devastating, but we’re thankful we’re all here. We’ll rebuild.”
In the face of tragedy, the Johnsons are holding on to hope and a deep sense of gratitude. Though they have lost everything, they know that the most important thing is that they’re alive to tell their story.