LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
On April 18, a fire damaged several homes in the Landings at Langley at Bethel Manor base housing area, causing thousands of dollars in damage and displacing three of Langley's families. In the wake of the fire, Team Langley pulled together to provide a fresh start for the families, donating time, goods and a helping hand.
The chaos began around 8:30 a.m., while most families were still sleeping into Sunday morning. Staff Sgt. Heather Seeger, a 1st Fighter Wing maintenance analyst, and her husband, Staff Sgt. Doug Seeger of the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, woke to a power outage, followed by banging on the front door.
"Our first instinct was to grab the kids and get out," said Doug.
All families affected by the fire escape unscathed, thanks to quick response from the Langley and York County fire departments and the 633d Security Forces Squadron. While the fire was contained quickly, picking up the pieces appeared to be a much harder process.
Without the support of the neighborhoods residents, businesses, first sergeants and Team Langley Airmen, the three families would not have been able to bounce back as quickly.
Within 48 hours of the fire, donations filled two houses with household goods, furniture and clothing. In addition, more than three carloads of donations arrived at the first sergeant's homes within days of the incident.
"Ninety-five percent of the furniture in our homes is donated," said Heather. "The sense of family is amazing."
"We collected more than $2,500 in donations from both the 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 1st Maintenance Operations Squadron," said Master Sgt. Trenton Chambers, 1 MOS first sergeant. "We also collected or assisted other agencies such as the Airman's Attic, Pinnacle Housing, the Langley Enlisted Spouses Club and the Poquoson ward of the Latter-Day Saints church, as well as other Langley first sergeants, in the collection and distribution of clothing, food, toys and furniture."
In addition to coordinating donations through the first sergeants, neighbors provided food and shelter for the displaced families, even offering to babysit their children while they began recovering from the tragedy. Local restaurants provided free food, while the Langley Enlisted Spouses Club held pasta dinners the families.
"I've never eaten so much pasta in my life," Heather said with a smile. "But I've also never been so thankful to have the food and a place to stay."
The Langley temporary lodging facilities opened their doors to the families, offering shelter until they moved into new dwellings. Within two days of the fire, the Bethel Manor housing office handed the families keys to homes in the newly-erected neighborhood across Big Bethel Road.
"We were so thankful when we got those keys," said Bethany Gonzales, wife of Staff Sgt. Pete Gonzales, a 36th Intelligence Squadron analyst. "Without everyone's help, I don't know what we would have done."
"It is great to know that the Langley community and its partners in the local area take to heart the phrase, 'We take care of our own,' and are there when the call goes out," added Chambers.
For a group of families that typically may not have interacted at all before the fire, the families said in the wake of tragedy, new friendships emerged as all three live on the same street in the new area.
"While it's sad a tragedy is what it took to bring us together, we're so happy to be close to each other now," said Bethany. "Our kids get to play together and we get to rebuild and help each other."
In the wake of the incident, Doug said the families learned valuable lessons about preparedness, family and community.
"This can happen to anyone at any time. I recommend everyone get homeowner's or renter's insurance, and check smoke alarms," he said. "Be there for a neighbor in a time of need. Our community matters to us."
While the families may have lost belongings, the sense of togetherness and belonging is the biggest gain of all, said Bethany.
"It's just stuff," she said. "Our families are safe, and that's what we're most thankful for."