Corsicana domestic violence shelter destroyed by fire

Corsicana domestic violence shelter destroyed by fire

A major fire destroyed the Corsicana House of Refuge, a shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence.

CORSICANA, Texas - A large fire destroyed a domestic violence shelter for women and children in Corsicana.

Corsicana House of Refuge Fire

What we know:

According to Corsicana officials, the fire started around 2 a.m. at the Corsicana House of Refuge on W. Collin Street.

While everyone made it out safely, the blaze destroyed the building. A total of five families, including eight children, were displaced.

The house coordinator was alerted to the fire by a neighbor. 

The fire is still being investigated, but the executive director of the house believes it started in the kitchen.

Dig deeper:

Compassion Corsicana’s House of Refuge was founded in 1985 to help women and children in Navarro County escape domestic violence. 

It offers families shelter with private rooms, emotional and financial support, counseling and legal services, and more.

What they're saying:

"The House of Refuge has long stood as a beacon of hope for survivors of domestic violence, offering safety, healing, and a path toward self-sufficiency for women, men, and children abuse. This city stands together in times of crisis. We will work hand in hand with our partners to help the House of Refuge recover and continue its mission of service," the city of Corsicana said in a news release.

Executive Director Melissa Castillo is grateful for the neighbor who alerted them to the fire. 

"She said that she could see the flames outside her window where he boys were staying. where they were sleeping and um she has a little baby and had to grab her baby," Castillo said.

The fire response took over four hours. 

"They used over 100,000 gallons of water but they prevented it from spreading to any adjacent structures or exposure type fires," said Corsicana Fire Assistant Chief Wade Gillen. 

Castillo says the destruction is heartbreaking, but they are overwhelmed with support from their loving community. 

What you can do:

Several charitable organizations have already stepped up to help the families who were living at the shelter.

Members of the community have also dropped off more than enough supplies to help them with their immediate needs. 

Compassion Corsicana said the best way for people to continue supporting those families and to help the shelter rebuild is to make a monetary donation on its website, with "The House of Refuge" noted in the donation, HERE.

What we don't know:

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.