ABBEVILLE, KATC - Saturday, September 21st, started off as a typical day for the Levene household.
“We came home and I talked to my son. He was in his room and it was hot in the house, so I asked, ‘Why don’t you have the air on?’ I turned the air conditioner on and went to the front room. Checked through the mail and within 3 to 5 minutes, we heard a loud boom, like someone threw a bomb in my house,” she said.
Around 3 pm, Nikki Levene, like any other person trying to beat the heat, decided to turn on her air conditioner, when unexpectedly, her house caught on fire due to a gas leak explosion.
“I had to catch myself at first because the house shook. I had to catch my balance before falling. I asked my son, ‘what was that’ and he said ‘momma run,” Levene said.
Fire marshals told Nikki Levene, a gas leak caused the explosion.
“I try to hold back and not cry because I never want my children to see what I’m going through. We just take it a day at a time,” she said.
Nikki, a school teacher in Abbeville, who’s lived in the rental property for two years with her five children, says she’s trying to stay strong for her kids.
“I’m a little depressed because as you can see, everything is gone, my kids don’t have anything,” she said.
Nikki’s 18-year-old son, who was in the room during the explosion, endured severe burns throughout his body but is recovering.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Zelle information - 337.567.0530
Venmo - $MarquitaL1983
Mrs. Layla Bolden at JH Williams Middle is also collecting donations.
