Community encouraged to help family who lost everything in a house fire

The extended Phung family, with Howard Dillon (second from left).

A friend of the Phung family, who lost everything, including their beloved dog, when their Annandale home was destroyed in a fire New Year’s Eve, started a GoFundMe page to raise money for them.

Howard Dillon started the fund to help the family start over. The family lost all their clothing, furnishings, and other material possessions due to water and smoke damage.

The Phung family’s home is a total loss.

The single-family home on Banff Street, in the Wakefield Chapel area, “has been deemed a complete loss and is uninhabitable,” says Dillon, who is engaged to the Phung’s daughter, Yen, a medical student at Georgetown University.

“Thankfully, the family is physically okay, but mentally, emotionally, and financially, it is going to take time and the support of everyone to deal with such a horrific tragedy,” he says. “They will need assistance in the days ahead as emotional and financial hardship awaits them.”

The mother and her two grandchildren, whom she was caring for, were home when the fire broke out. Mr. Phung arrived at the house at about 5 p.m., saw the smoke, and got them out of the house. Their two daughters, who also live there, weren’t home.

Unfortunately, Coco, a mixed chihuahua terrier, whom they had for 14 years, was sleeping in the sun room and they weren’t able to get to her because of smoke, Dillon says.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department determined the fire started from an electrical event in a basement kitchen, which had been installed by a previous owner. The house was built in 1959, and the Phung’s had lived there for about 20 years.

Related story: Dog dies in Annandale house fire

The family is staying in a hotel while they try to find temporary housing, Dillon says. He thinks the house might have to be torn down.

The GoFundMe page invites the community to help the family’s recovery process. “Anything you can give is welcome and appreciated and will go towards helping these family members move forward from this tragedy and get back on their feet,” it states. “Every bit will help and I know they will be so grateful for your kindness and generosity.” Contributions can be made here.