After scooter causes explosion at house in Carthage, mom says two hospitalized youngsters are positive | Jefferson County

CARTHAGE – Kaela Lightholder was putting her children to bed last week when she heard two loud bangs and saw smoke coming from the basement.

Ms Lightholder and her three children are still looking for a permanent home after their Oxford Street townhouse caught fire while the outside temperature was below zero, resulting in two of their children being admitted to Carthage Area Hospital for treatment of cold exposure were brought.

Ms Lightholder said she would place her children – a 3 week old Kora Lightholder; a 1-year-old Emarie Lightholder and 8-year-old Weston Reed – went to bed just before 11pm on January 10th when they heard a loud bang and then another loud bang. Her ex-boyfriend at the time opened the basement door and immediately saw the fire. He started yelling at everyone to get out, and they did, but exited a burning house and entered temperatures of about 7 degrees below zero. Neither of them had shoes on.

They went outside and their eldest son started banging on their neighbors’ doors and yelling that he was cold, Ms. Lightholder said. It took about 10 minutes for one of her neighbors to come to the door, she said. Her two youngest children were taken to hospital to be checked for colds but are fine now, she said.

The explosion came from an electric scooter. His battery was plugged in down in the basement and exploded. It shot batteries all over the basement and started a fire in several places.

Ms Lightholder said she and her children have been staying with a friend since the fire, which she appreciates very much, but it’s just not home. The Red Cross has helped her by giving her a gift card for essentials, and the friend who is hosting her has been collecting clothes and other items for her children.

“Our lives have been a mess,” she said, “but we’re persevering.”

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