CATAWBA, S.C. — An overnight fire in Catawba, South Carolina displaced a family of five and sent a mother and two children to CMC main with smoke inhalation.
On Tuesday, Morrison G. Belk returned to the rubble to find his home a total loss.
14 years of memories are gone but Belk says he still feels grateful.
"If you got family, tell them you love them before something happens," Belk told NBC Charlotte. "Please do that."
Belk said it happened sometime before midnight. He was fast asleep when he woke to the sound of his wife's screams.
"There is no way in the world I could ever believe that I would be standing, looking at the ruins of my home, yesterday at this time," Belk said.
He said their daughter and his daughter's two children went through the front door, where the fire started. They suffered some minor burns and smoke inhalation but are expected to be alright.
"I think my wife says it singed her [daughter's] hair a little bit, because there were flames out here," Belk said. "I don't know how in the world they came through that. Honestly, I don't know how."
A fire investigator with York County says the fire was ruled an accident with an electrical malfunction sparking the fire.
"It came fast and it was furious," Belk said.
He added that he won't ask for handouts from friends, although neighbors have been quick to offer up anything necessary.
Even though Belk has lost everything, he still has gratitude because he knows a new house would be no home without a family to fill it.
"I could have lost not only myself but I could have lost four of my family members, real quick," Belk said. "Instead of you being here covering a house [fire], you could have been here covering a funeral procession."