News : Friday fire leaves family of eight homeless

A Vinton family is safe but homeless after a Friday apartment fire.

A Vinton family of eight is homeless this morning after a fire at their apartment Friday night.

Cheryl Wheeler and Michael Parker and their six children, all younger than 12, were home in their apartment at 1603 First Street West (Park Apartments) when the fire broke out. The children escaped safely but the adults were taken to Virginia Gay Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Family friend Sarah Parker said the fire is the latest of many challenges the family has faced.

“Thank God they were all okay, but now they have nothing and nowhere to go. They can never catch a break; it's always something,” says Parker.

Neighbors cared for the children while the adults went to the hospital. The children are staying with family members.

"We have nowhere to go," says Cheryl. The children are separated for now, staying with relatives, she says.

The local Salvation Army is making arrangements to help the family and accept donations. For more information about how to help, call Harvest Christian Fellowship at 319-472-5352 or Rev. Bob Gaston at 319-939-1635. To contact the family directly, call Cheryl Wheeler at 319-521-0055.

Vinton Fire Chief Gary McKenna said the cause of the fire was a cigarette igniting a bed.