NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY)– A New Iberia bus driver lost her home Saturday, July 13 to a fire.

The fire, which was suspected to be an electrical fire, started around 2:30 p.m. and lasted about four hours.

Amanda Folse said her son and her friend were in the house at the time of the fire. She said her son broke the window unit out of the wall to climb out of the house, and her friend Floyd Flugence rolled through the fire, out of the front door.

“It kind of hurts to know where you live and where your roots are, all this access that you had, you got to pick up all that,” Flugence said. “But you seen it all, it’s gone. It’s destroyed. You got to start all over again.”

Folse’s home has been in her family for over 50 years, gifted to her by her mother.

“I’ve lived here most of my life, since I was 12 years old,” Folse said. “This is my home. There are a lot of memories.”

Friends and family have been helping Folse go through what is left. All they’ve found is a few family photos and some of her mother’s jewelry.

She has received help from the community, including clothes and a stay at a local motel, but she has created a GoFundMe for others to donate to help her afford a new home.

She hopes to be rehoused by the time school starts, so she can continue her job.

“This is a blessing that people have come up and helped us,” Folse said. “I’ve had several donations and offers on different things, but I’m so appreciative with everything.”

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