'God bless Eddie, we got out.' - Floral Park family thankful to be alive after neighbor alerts to fire

Thomas Speck Sr. says he and his family barely had time to react when flames tore through their Floral Park home early Sunday morning.

News 12 Staff

Nov 26, 2020, 1:34 AM

Updated 1,256 days ago

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A Floral Park family is thankful to be alive this Thanksgiving after a devastating house fire.
Thomas Speck Sr. says he and his family barely had time to react when flames tore through their Floral Park home early Sunday morning.
"The smoke was already starting to choke me, I mean you had no chance, and God bless us and God bless Eddie, we got out," he says.
Neighbor Eddie Raber says it was around 3 a.m. when he heard crackling and saw a bright light coming from the Specks’ home on Webster Avenue. He says the flames were so hot that he could feel the heat on his side of the fence.
“Stood on a 6-foot ladder to see over the gate to see the whole deck was on fire,” Raber says.
He says the flames were going up the side of the house faster than he could call 911, so that's when he started screaming. "I just started screaming as loud as I can. 'There's a fire, your house is on fire, get out now!'" Raber says.
The Specks, who were sleeping, heard Raber and what they say sounded like the windows exploding.
"We all hopped out of bed, we didn't have any time to think, we all just kind of reacted,” says Jessica Speck.
The seven people in the house and their three dogs made it out safely.
"Really, we could have lost my parents, that was there bedroom up there," says Jessica Speck. "It's just so crazy to think about, but honestly, we're just really happy to be alive and together for the holidays, that's the most important part."
The family says while staying at a hotel, their cars were broken into and the only things they had been able to recover from the fire were stolen.
"All the stuff that we salvaged, the stuff that was just able to be, you know, not considered trash, and that hurt, that hurt a lot. It was like a demoralizing blow on the whole entire family," says Thomas Speck Jr.
Despite all that has happened, the Specks say they are grateful for their neighbors and the outpouring of support.
“Tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I have more to be thankful for tomorrow than I did in my whole entire life,” says Thomas Speck Jr.


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