Photo courtesy of Tiffany Numinen

PAINESDALE – A woman and her nine-year-old son along with the woman’s boyfriend, escaped unharmed from their burning duplex on the corner of M-26 and Baltic Street Thursday morning, but they lost everything in the fire.

Jordis Numinen and her son, Marshall, are starting over with nothing, said Jordis’ mother-in-law, Tiffany Numinen.

Numinen said Marshall, who will celebrate his 10th birthday on Jan. 31, was a hero.

“He woke up, smelled smoke,” she said, “and he was able to wake everyone up and get everyone out of the house safely.”

One half of the duplex was occupied by Jordis and Marshall. The other half of the house was not occupied at the time of the fire, said Destin Moss, Jordis’ nephew.

Moss has started a gofundme campaign to help the mother and her son.

“All monies raised from this fundraiser will be directed to Jordis Numinen and her son, Marshall, to assist them in the aftermath of a recent house fire,” the campaign says. Jordis has resided at a duplex located on the corner of M-26 and Baltic Street in Painesdale, Michigan, for more than 3 years.

“Everything is a total loss,” said Tiffany Numinen. “They are starting completely over. They need clothing, toiletries, a new home, they need kitchen supplies.”

The gofundme page says support is needed to to help replace the many items lost in the fire, including school supplies, clothing, toys, toiletries, appliances, personal electronics, and more. Monies from the fundraiser may also be used to help the family afford short-term accommodations until they can locate a new permanent residence.

The home was owned by Karen Gasparac, Tiffany’s mother, Diane Gasparac, Tiffany’s grandmother.

The other half of the house was owned by Diane, said Moss.

T

he home was built by Tiffany’ Numinen’s great-great grandfather in 1902, and has been a family home since. “Our family is deeply rooted in Painesdale,” Numinen said, “and this is just devastating.”

She said the fire started in the basement in one side of the duplex, spread to the other, then quickly spread to the remainder of the structure.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the gofundme account can go to gofundme.com/f/help-jordis-and-marshall-rebuild-after-painesdale-house-fire