Jackson family of seven loses house to fire

JACKSON, Mo. -- Though their house was engulfed in flames, Mike and Shellia Nix and their five children were happily welcomed home by Jackson firefighters Wednesday night.

"The fire chief said it was the best thing he ever heard when he found out that we were all accounted for," said Michael Nix.

After answering the fire call at 4:39 p.m., firefighters encountered a fire burning primarily on the second floor of the frame house at 215 E. Adams. Fire Chief Brad Golden said the house was difficult to get into because it had a strong front door locked with a deadbolt.

Firefighters took a thermal imagery camera in to locate the hot spots. "But the heat got so intense it started to smoke some of our equipment," Golden said.

At that point, no one could account for the family.

The Nixes had taken their children to the mall in Cape Girardeau for dinner just before the fire was reported. They returned about 6:30 to find their house still in flames.

The second floor of the house was destroyed. The first floor sustained extensive water damage.

The Millersville Volunteer Fire Department and the Cape Girardeau Fire Department provided mutual aid. A firefighter from the Fruitland Fire Department also responded. Firefighters were still clearing the scene at 8:45 p.m.

The Nixes moved into the rental house in August. He is a 39-year-old union electrician who works out of St. Louis. Their five children are Michael Christopher, 5, Elizabeth Olivia, 7, Lauren Brianne, 12, Benjamin Cody, 13, and Jeremy Stephen, 14. All attend Jackson schools.

They spent Wednesday night at the house of their grandparents and are facing a holiday season of uncertainty. "I've never been through something like this before," Nix said. "I don't even know where to start."

Although the family has lost many personal treasures, including his wife's wedding dress, his daughters' stuffed animals, Benjamin's rare cards and his own custom-fit golf clubs, Nix said they know they are lucky.

" A fireman said if it had happened at 3 o'clock in the morning we wouldn't have made it out," he said.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182