Community rallies support for Oakleaf family after fire destroys home
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The Bazinets say just about everyone they’ve come in contact with over the past few days has offered to help.

OAKLEAF PLANTATION, Fla. — Imagine losing everything in a matter of minutes – your memories, your belongings, your sense of safety.

That’s the reality for one Oakleaf family after a devastating fire ripped through their home Friday.

Clay County Fire Rescue is still working to figure out how the fire started.

The Bazinets are grateful they made it out without any injuries, especially when you look back at what the home looks like now.

The other thing they’re grateful for is the community coming together to support them.

“We heard a pop, and the next thing we know was the house was on fire,” said Jamie Bazinet.

Jamie and David Bazinet were home Friday while a crew worked to install a new roof.

They ran outside when they heard the pop, not knowing they wouldn’t be able to step back into the home where they raised their son.

“I don’t know who the fireman is, but I’m going to find out because he walked over and asked me if I was OK,” said Jamie Bazinet. “I said my diamond’s in the house, we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.”

Bazinet says the firefighter went back into the flames and came out five minutes later with the ring.

“Everything that she needed, he had everything for her,” said David Bazinet.

The Bazinets can’t believe some of the other things that managed to survive the fire.

“We found our wedding album,” said Jamie Bazinet. “My mother made a decoupage painting of an angel praying, and it was completely untouched.”

David is a state trooper who says he’s heard from FHP leaders across the state asking if they need anything.

Jamie is a teacher in Clay County who says everyone from her son’s football coach, to the principal to guidance counselors has been by the house, offering to help.

“She’s like, ‘I know you probably have to put your room together and you have to put things out, it starts tomorrow,'” said Jamie Bazinet about her conversation with a guidance counselor at her son’s school. “‘I’ve got about four or five of us who are ready to go to your school and do your room for you.'”

The Bazinets have family in the area they’re staying with and the Red Cross helped with some of the immediate needs.

A neighbor set up a GoFundMe that’s already raised more than $3,000.

With so much help from just about everyone they come in contact with, the Bazinets are able to focus on their son after he lost the only home he’s ever known.

“This is a horrible way to start your senior year, but we’re doing anything and everything to make it what it would be if our house didn’t burn down,” said Jamie Bazinet.

Bazinet says she’s heard from several neighbors already who are afraid they’ll move out now.

She said their goal is to rebuild right on top of here, and they were on the phone with the insurance company to see how they could make that happen just before they took a few minutes to talk with First Coast News.

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