A Florida father and his young son are counting their blessings after a massive overnight fire tore through their Tampa home, destroying nearly everything they owned.
Brian Rhodes told Fox 13 News that he and his 5-year-old son weren’t home when the blaze began and didn’t learn what was happening until authorities called around 6 a.m.
“It was so big (firefighters) couldn’t tell me where it started,” Rhodes said, explaining that when he arrived, flames were still shooting from the windows as crews worked to get them under control.
“You could just tell everything was gone,” he added.
Once the fire was extinguished, Rhodes walked through parts of the charred remains, hoping to find something salvageable.
“I lost everything — everything I owned was in this home,” he said.
Firefighters later told him that his 8-year-old pitbull, Ivey, hadn’t survived. The loss hit especially hard — Ivey was his son’s “best friend,” Rhodes said, adding that the dog “protected him” and “played with him.”
He also had to break heartbreaking news to his son: “Your blankie you’ve had since you were [6 months old] is gone. All of your shoes, your toys, your PlayStation too.”
While searching through the ashes, Rhodes realized another irreplaceable loss — his mother’s remains.
“My mom’s ashes were here,” he said, pointing to where they used to be. “It makes me want to cry, but I know I’ve got to be strong because my son is watching me.”
Despite the devastation, Rhodes said the outpouring of support from loved ones and the community has given him strength. Friends, family, and co-workers have rallied to donate clothing and essentials.
“At one point I thought I had nobody — and then all of this happened, and I feel like I really do have people around me,” he said.
Now, he and his son are focused on rebuilding their lives.
“We’re looking for a home now,” Rhodes shared. “Once you lose everything, you realize what really matters — and it’s those two things — me and my son.”
