Opp, AL – A father and son from the Onycha community are finding hope amid tragedy after a fire destroyed their home, leaving them without a place to live. Austin Anderson, who has called the property home for the past five years, was left devastated when the fire broke out, but he is determined to stay positive and see the blessing in the difficult situation.
“It’s rough, but there’s going to be some good to come out of it,” Anderson said, reflecting on the aftermath of the blaze. “I’m keeping my spirits high. It’s a blessing somewhere in all of this mess.” Anderson expressed his gratitude that neither he nor his young son was inside the house at the time of the fire, which could have been far worse.
Anderson was outside with a friend, working on a chicken coop in the backyard, when he first noticed smoke and heard the sound of windows cracking. He rushed back to the house, attempting to rescue his dog, but it was too late. “That’s when it really hit me—it’s bad,” Anderson recalled.
The house, built in the 1950s and nearly paid off, was a total loss. The fire left nothing salvageable by the time the local fire departments had extinguished the flames. However, Anderson found something remarkable amidst the destruction—three Bibles in his hunting equipment room that had survived the fire with little to no damage.
“I can still read out of all of them in that house. It shows the power of God,” Anderson said, finding comfort in what he views as a sign of divine protection. “I’m going to look at this as a blessing, and there’s no need for me to be upset. It will do no good.”
In the wake of the loss, Anderson has turned to the community for support. He created a GoFundMe page to help rebuild his life and home, and so far, the response has been overwhelming. “I can’t stress how great this community is and the surrounding communities to take care of me,” Anderson said. “I hope one day I can repay it back.”
While he works to get back on his feet, Anderson is temporarily living with his father, just down the road from the property where he grew up. With the help of generous donations and the unwavering support of his neighbors, he remains hopeful that better days lie ahead.
Through this heartbreaking experience, Austin Anderson has shown incredible resilience and gratitude, and his story serves as a testament to the strength of community and the power of faith.
