Bullitt County family’s home destroyed by fire while at cheerleading competition in Florida

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A devastating fire destroyed a home in Bullitt County, Kentucky, while some of the family was out of state.

The home in Lebanon Junction caught fire Monday, and firefighters were called back a day later when hot spots reignited.

Shanna Higginbotham, head cheer coach for Bernheim Middle School, was in Florida with her cheerleading squad for a national competition when she received the shocking news.

“We were walking around Animal Kingdom celebrating after our competition,” Higginbotham explained. “One of the parents got a call that their house was on fire.”

The home, located on Belmont Road, belonged to a student athlete and a Bullitt County teacher. Higginbotham said the student is an active member of the cheerleading and volleyball teams at Bernheim Middle.

As the team headed back from Florida, Higginbotham shared the news on social media, which sparked an outpouring of support from the community.

“We started a GoFundMe, and we're working on collecting clothing and household items for the family,” Higginbotham said. “The community has been incredible. From prayers to donations, everyone is behind us.”

Firefighters from several departments, including the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department, responded to the blaze Monday. Tuesday, they were called back to extinguish the rekindled fire.

Chief Erik Butler said the home was "destroyed," adding that firefighters had control of the fire within an hour, but the basement and upper floor were heavily damaged.

“There’s no saving it,” Butler said. “It’s a loss.”

Despite the destruction, Higginbotham said the family is counting their blessings, noting that they narrowly avoided being home during the fire. If the student had been at home, they would have been in the bedroom where the fire started.

“The child would have been in that bedroom, right where the fire began,” Higginbotham said. “The timing of it was truly a blessing.”

The tragedy has brought the community together, with Higginbotham recalling the emotional moment when she reached out for help.

“There were tears from our entire group,” Higginbotham said. “I made one call, and the whole county started praying and offering support. It’s been truly heartwarming to see the community come together.”

While the family faces the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives, Higginbotham remains hopeful, with fundraising efforts already underway.

“We’ll keep posting updates and doing fundraisers,” she said. “The community has been incredible. It’s amazing to see how Bullitt County always comes together during times of crisis.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fire investigators are scheduled to arrive at the scene Thursday to determine what led to the blaze. If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe account, click here.

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