Fire victims give thanks to community
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Justin, Brian, Tyler, Lauren (foreground) and Elise Gore lost their home on Nov.11 and are thankful for the community's generosity. See page 6A for a personalized thank you letter from the Gore family.

While most families gave thanks for great sales or extra helpings of turkey last week, one Gulf Breeze family is thankful they are all in one piece. After a fire gutted their home earlier this month, the Gore family is also thankful for the generosity of the surrounding community.

"We're really grateful for all the support we've been given," said Brian Gore, a Gulf Breeze resident and father of three.

Gore said area churches, little league sports teams, friends, neighbors and various community organizations and businesses banded together to help the family of four get back on their feet.

"We want to support the Gore family any way we can," said Jennifer Keenan with Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church (GBUMC), one of at least two area churches to pitch in with donations. "Many of them didn't know the family and [gave] from the bottom of their hearts."

In addition to friends, family, local businesses and groups, the Gores thanked GBUMC and St. Ann Catholic Church for their congregation's donations of dishes, gift certificates and pantry items.

The fire erupted around 1 a.m. Nov. 11 while the family was at a wedding in the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands. A family friend that was house-sitting immediately called 9-1-1 after being woken up by a barking dog. Firefighters' from Gulf Breeze Fire and Rescue, Midway Fire District and Pensacola Beach responded to subdue the flames. Gulf Breeze Fire Chief Shane Carmichael said much of the house was already destroyed by the time firefighters' arrived on scene. The Gores returned to Gulf Breeze Nov. 13 to find their home disemboweled from the blaze.

"It's amazing how things work out that we weren't there when it happened," Gore said. "As bad as it is, it could have been so much worse with our three children."

Officials with the Florida Fire Marshal's Office and Gulf Breeze Fire and Rescue agreed that the fire was most likely caused by an electrical failure in the attic above the kitchen.

The Gores, who moved into the home in March of this year, are currently staying in a home located in the same neighborhood owned by Elise Gore's father.

"Our kids can still ride their bikes to school and they are in a neighborhood they are familiar with," Gore said.

The family plans to rent the home owned by Dr. Frank Pettyjohn until they reach an agreement with their insurance company. Gore said he plans to rebuild.

See page 6A for a personalized thank you letter from the Gore family.