Virginia Firefighter Loses Home In Devastating Blaze Days Before Holidays

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A Virginia firefighter who has spent years running into burning homes to save strangers watched his own go up in flames this week, leaving him and his three kids with nothing days before the holidays.

The fire tore through Doug Dempsey’s home before dawn on Tuesday, Dec. 9, collapsing walls, charring every room, and leaving only a skeletal frame standing in the quiet stretch of woods behind it. 

Dempsey got out with the family dogs. His children — Aren, 21, Dana, 18, and Marie, 13 — were away visiting family, loved ones said.

A GoFundMe created by a family friend captured the gut punch better than anyone could.

“For years, Doug ran into burning buildings to save lives and property, but this recent blaze left him helpless as his own safe haven was destroyed,” the organizer wrote.

Everything inside — clothes, furniture, school supplies, holiday gifts — is gone.

"Just last night, their lives were turned completely upside down when a devastating house fire destroyed their home and everything in it," Taylor Altman wrote.

And with the holidays fast approaching, friends say the timing couldn’t be worse.

The fundraiser says donations will help the family with temporary housing, clothing, food, and basic essentials as they start from scratch. 

More than $1,600 has already come in as the community tries to give the family a soft landing during the hardest month of the year.

"To make this tragedy even more challenging, it's the holiday season, a time meant for joy and family, which now feels incredibly difficult for them," organizers wrote.

"I can't imagine the pain of losing a home, especially at this time of year," Altman added. 

"I’m starting this fundraiser to help them with immediate needs as they begin the difficult process of recovery and rebuilding their lives from scratch."