Fire Claims Sunny Brae Family’s Home – June 17, 2012

Melinda McLarin comforts her distraught daughter Sydney, being held by brother William, at the fire.
SUNNY BRAE – A family of three is without a home after a Sunday morning blaze that engulfed their house at 46 Crescent Way in Sunny Brae.
William McLarin told Arcata Firefighters he awoke this morning to his sister, Sydney, 8, yelling “Fire! Fire!” The two quickly exited the burning home. Their mother, Melinda, wasn’t home at the time. No one was harmed.

Melinda weeps with relief and is comforted by a neighbor, right, after Fire Chief John McFarland, left, gives her Sydney’s $6,000 cochlear implant, rescued from the fire.
As Arcata Fire doused the blaze, but the house was all but destroyed. The cause is not immediately known, though Arcata Fire is investigating.
The McLarins lost everything in the fire, but do have a place to stay. Assistance may be dropped off at neighbor Kathrine Lee’s house, 1092 Buttermilk Lane, the pale yellow house on the corner of Crescent Way and Buttermilk Lane.