A fire destroyed a trailer home in Elizabeth Township that was home for four children Wednesday morning.

The trailer belonged to Lee Turvey who was living there with his son, Cory, and his grandchildren, Michael, James, and Jayl. The children are 17, 6, 3, and 6 months, respectively.

The fire was called in at 10:33 a.m. Fire stations from Elizabeth and Upper townships as well as Coal Grove answered the call.

According to neighbor Mary Bailey, her kids were playing basketball outside the residence when they noticed that it had caught fire. The boys then notified their parents. Mary Bailey called 911 as her husband, Mark Bailey, went to assist the children inside the trailer.

All four children were asleep inside the house when Mark Bailey called into the house, waking them up, Mrs. Bailey said. She said that Cory busted a window and was able to get the 6 month old and the three year old out, and then jumped out himself.

After Mark Bailey opened the front door by throwing a table, Michael was able to escape, she said.

“By the time the fire department got here it was all gone,” said Sarah Bailey. “It was pretty much on the ground.”

Sarah said that the fire spread quickly and it was lucky that the kids escaped when they did.

“I’d say if it was probably another minute all of them would have burned up in there,” Sarah said.

Konnie Hackworth, a friend of the Turvey family, said that Cory was the real hero. Without his help, she said, the kids would not have been able to escape.

“Nobody could get in there,” she said. “Nobody could get near the house. If it wasn’t for that little feller, those babies wouldn’t have made it. I’m just glad those kids got out alive.”

EMS checked the children and found no injuries. A woman identified by the EMS as the children’s mother denied further treatment or transport, said Dave McDonald, director of field operations for the Southeast Ohio EMS district.

All of the family’s possessions were destroyed.

“They can use any help that people want to give them,” said firefighter Eddie Jenkins. Jenkins also said that the family does not have insurance.

“I lost everything I own,” Lee Turvey said.

Hackworth said that anyone who wants to make a donation to the Turvey family can drop it off at Pleasant Valley Church in Elizabeth township.