LATONIA LAKES, Ky. – A fire took their home before it was finished. Now one Northern Kentucky family picks up the pieces to rise from the ashes to make their home a reality again.
The Brinkmans were supposed to put the finishing touches on their four-bedroom ranch with hopes of moving in at the end of the month, but a devastating fire set their progress back a few more months leaving them without a home. They haven’t given up on their home or the humanity of people.
Paul and Molly Brinkman, 29 and 28 respectively, had been working alongside many volunteers on their Habitat for Humanity home in Latonia Lakes, Ky., for months when Molly got a call at 2 a.m. on Aug. 19 from a neighbor.
Their newly constructed home was on fire.
"It caught fire so easy because it was all wood," she said, of the home that still had no siding, windows, doors nor electricity in it yet.
The Independence Fire Department and Kenton County Police arrived at the scene. By the time Molly and Paul showed up the fire was out and the house was gone.
"There was nothing left. It was just crazy," said Molly, devastated at the five weeks of work that had just gone up in a blaze. Her husband remembered feeling heartbroken, nauseous and frustrated but also flashed back to a childhood memory.
When Paul was in the 3rd grade his family’s home caught on fire and the smell of his new home burning to the ground brought back those feelings, he said.
Habitat for Humanity, however, made a devastating situation seem OK, Molly said.
"The first thing they said after the fire, ‘We’ll just have to start over, no big deal.’ They just made it better."
When folks found out about the Brinkmans’ home, the phone started ringing and volunteers, including about 10 of their family members, came from all over to help the family rebuild what they had lost, Molly said.
"[It] restores your faith in people. They take time away from their family to help ours—means more than anything."
Paul called the 25-30 volunteers who show up nearly every Saturday "dedicated strangers."
The fire department and the insurance company recently released the site for building again. Friday was the Brinkmans’ first day back to the sight for rebuilding. However, volunteers have been building the house’s walls in a nearby garage.
Volunteers will parade those walls to the house at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Those "strangers" who have dedicated their weekdays, Saturdays, work and time have contributed to something that Molly and Paul said that they will cherish.
"This has been a very emotional month for our chapter and we want to bring some joy and happiness back to the family and our group," said Amy Monson, family selection chairperson for The Northern Kentucky Habitat for Humanity Chapter of Tri-State Habitat for Humanity.
The couple who've been married 10 years said that their new home means everything to them and their four children; Haley, 9, Logan, 8, Carter, 4, and Lincoln, 1, all of whom have been living with Molly’s brother in Independence.
"[It means] a new beginning more than anything," said Paul.
A new beginning may be just what this family needs.
The couple had been victims of a bad economy long before the fire took their dream home.
A few years back Paul, a former airline employee, had his wages reduced while his wife was pregnant and on bed rest. They struggled, but ultimately lost their house due to a foreclosure. Recently he lost his job. Molly, a photography student, works in Cincinnati.
But they have never lost hope.
"Somehow we always rebound," said Paul.
