A more than one hundred year old home was destroyed by fire in Pinckard today....leaving the family homeless.

Elizabeth Anderson was too shaken up to go on camera, but she did tell us that her great grandfather built this home back in the early 1900's.

She says a need for a drink of water saved their lives

Andy Anderson woke up feeling thirsty. He kept a glass of water by the bed every night since surgery...but not on this night. When he headed for the kitchen...he discovered the cabinets were on fire. Andy and his wife Elizabeth got out of the house and called 9-1-1.

Even though the home sits next to the Pinckard volunteer fire department and yards away from two fire hydrants...it wasn't enough to save the historic structure.

Susan Holmes of the wiregrass chapter of the Red Cross says they've responded to a number of fires since thanksgiving including this one. The organization provides food clothing and other essentials lost in a fire.

The Red Cross is starting a new fundraising program where the public can buy a set of services for fire or disaster victims and donate them in honor of a family member or loved one.

The fire is under investigation at this time. Firefighters say the cause may be electrical. The Andersons have insurance...and will be living in their r-v for now.

For more information about donating to the Red Cross to help out families like the Andersons....you can call the Red Cross at 334-792-9852 or log onto their website, www.redcross.org.