Tyler Perry Quotes Bible After Father Escapes Louisiana House Fire
Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry took to social media Wednesday to share a Bible verse after his father escaped a house fire that destroyed his parents' dream home.
Local news station WAFB-TV reported Monday that Sheriff Nat Williams said Perry's father, Emmitt Perry, was home at the time of the fire in St. Helena Parish located in Greensburg, Louisiana.
"According to Williams, a few different fire departments responded to the blaze. He added crews let the fire burn itself out because there was nothing more they could do," WAFB-TV reported.
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On Facebook, Perry shared in detail what the house meant to him and his family. He started the post by citing Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
He then went on to talk about the sentimental value behind the house that was lost.
"The house that my family lost in Louisiana was my mother's dream home. One of my greatest blessings is that she got to live in it for almost three years before she died in 2009. One of her final requests was that I take care of my daddy (her words) after she died. So in her honor, and in the spirit of her kindness and her faith as well as my own, I have been doing and will continue to do just that.
"The house was a total loss, but he got out alive. I'm grateful that my sister, who has had a tremendous amount of heartbreak over the past few months, was not there with him at the time. All of that to say, no amount of fire can burn away the memories I shared with my Mom there. God bless, and thank you for all the well wishes and prayers. We're all fine."
According to ABC affiliate WBRZ, fire investigators haven't yet found the cause of the fire, which they believe started on one of the upper floors of the house.
Perry's father, Emmitt, recounted his experience before the fire, saying: "I heard something popping in the attic. I went upstairs and let the [attic] stairs down. I couldn't smell any smoke. I didn't see anything burning."
It wasn't until he was already out of the house that he could see the clouds of smoke billowing near his chimney.
"I then went to call the fire department, and my daughter was coming in the gate," Emmitt said, describing the scene. "And she said, 'I already called them.'"
Eyewitnesses said the fire was visible from miles away from the residence. The fire department unfortunately could not get the flames under control in time to save the house.
The massive outbreak took more than 50 firefighters and thousands of gallons of water to put out the flames.
"I made it out alive," Emmitt added. "If it wouldn't have happened then, me and my daughter would've probably been in there, and we would have burned up."
