'We don't know where to go': Fire destroys single mother's home in Delavan

 

DELAVAN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A little over a year ago, a single mom in Delavan was finally able to make her dream of living in a house a reality. But a giant setback has now caused her and her son to be homeless.

As many were out Black Friday shopping Nov. 25, Janet Bain had gone out to pick up some groceries. She returned to find the first house she'd been able to afford to live in on fire.

Giant flames spread quickly on this windy Black Friday afternoon in Delavan.

"I've never seen anything like it, and you feel so helpless," said Bain.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to the grocery store.

"Cause I waited until the afternoon to go shopping because I wanted to miss all the Black Friday people," said Bain.

The long Thanksgiving weekend gave this single mom a break from long hours at work.

"And working overtime just trying to provide, it's been difficult," said Bain.

Little over a year ago, Bain finally had enough money to move her son and their pup, Dakota, into this home.

"She's an Australian Shepherd mix, 14. She's my baby. She is so friendly," said Bain.

But as Bain pulled up after that grocery store trip, her son, who'd heard the smoke detector, was running out. Thoughts quickly turned to Dakota.

"Like everyone was yelling because everyone's in panic to try and get her out. She's like oh no, everyone's yelling at me, and ran back in. She thought she was in trouble," said Bain.

Everything is gone, but Bain was able to rescue her dog. Even her extensive collection of Raiders memorabilia, that reminded her of times watching football with her dad, is destroyed.

"To have something like this happen, it's just devastating. We don't know where to go, what to do," said Bain.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Janet recover. You can find the link here. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Delavan Fire Chief Tim O'Neil says it appears to have started in the garage.