The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS 

Tribune Staff Reporter 

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net 

A DEVASTATING fire tore through a cherished family home, reducing decades of memories to ashes and leaving Richan Mackey, her 9-year-old son, and several relatives with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The blaze, which erupted on February 8, 2025, struck without warning — just moments after Mrs Mackey’s son went upstairs to charge his phone. 

Mrs Mackey and her son fled the home, located in Eastwood, as flames engulfed it. She quickly called her husband, brother, and uncle to inform them of the disaster. 

“The only thing was going through my mind is, what is next?” she said yesterday. “I lost my mom. In 2024 we buried her, and eight years ago, I lost my dad. January we just buried my aunt, so the only thing was going through my head is, Lord, what is next for my family?”

The fire destroyed the house and irreplaceable family keepsakes. 

“All the pictures, the pictures with our parents, the videos, all that we have lost, all the documents, everything is lost,” Ms Mackey said. “Right now, it’s just the memories inside our head and the few photos we have on our phone. That’s all we have to remember right now.” 

Ms Mackey’s son, who was very close to his grandmother before she passed away last year, is now traumatised. 

The family is now staying in the front room of Ms Mackey’s aunt’s house, a situation she describes as “depressing.”

“It isn’t a good feeling, but I am thankful for life,” she said. “I’m thankful that none of us were lost in the fire, but this is really something new for me and my family all over.”

Ms Mackey, who has been unemployed while caring for her sick mother, is now seeking help to rebuild her family’s life. She needs clothing, building supplies, and job opportunities to help provide for her family. 

“I don’t know exactly how much it will cost, but if we can get a two, three-bedroom house back so we could be comfortable and back in a home and a roof over our head, we’ll be very grateful,” she said. 

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Ms Mackey said donations of clothing, building supplies, or financial assistance can be made to Richan Sweeting Mackey, Account #5510139955, at Bank of the Bahamas, Village Road Branch. She can also be contacted at (242) 425-7934.