OPP, Ala. — A father and son from Opp are left without a home after a devastating fire, but instead of focusing on the destruction, they are finding hope and gratitude in the aftermath.
Austin Anderson, a father of one, had been living in his home in the Onycha community near Opp for the past five years. He says it was hard to watch the home he had worked so hard for burn to the ground, but he remains grateful for the safety of his son and himself.
“It’s rough, but it’s going to lead to some good,” Anderson said. “I’m keeping my spirits high. There’s a blessing somewhere in all of this mess. Thank God that my son wasn’t here, nobody was trapped, and it could have been a lot worse than it was.”
Anderson was in the backyard with a friend building a chicken coop when he first noticed something wrong. He heard the cracking of a window and saw smoke coming from his home. As he rushed inside to try and save his dog, he realized the situation was worse than he initially thought.
“I tried to get my dog out, but it was too late,” Anderson recalled. “That’s when it really hit me. It was bad.”
The home, which was built in the 1950s and nearly paid off, was deemed a total loss. The fire consumed everything, and nothing was salvageable by the time the fire department extinguished the flames. Despite the significant loss, Anderson found three Bibles in his hunting equipment room that were barely damaged.
“I can still read out of all of them,” Anderson said. “It shows the power of God. I’m going to look at this as a blessing, and there’s no need to be upset. It will do no good. Some good work will come out of this.”
In the wake of the fire, Anderson created a GoFundMe campaign to help himself and his son get back on their feet. He plans to use the funds to rebuild his home. So far, the local community has been incredibly supportive, offering donations of necessities to help the family during this difficult time.
“I can’t stress enough how great this community is and the surrounding areas,” Anderson said. “They’ve taken care of me, and I hope one day I can repay it.”
For now, Anderson and his son are staying with his father, just down the road from their former home, at the house where he grew up. Although the road ahead is uncertain, Anderson’s faith and positive outlook remain unshaken.
As the community continues to rally around them, Anderson remains hopeful that, with time and support, he and his son will rebuild their lives and home.
