FORNEY, Texas — The Forney-area home of a veteran Dallas Police Department officer and his family was destroyed in an overnight fire.
FORNEY, Texas — The Forney-area home of a veteran Dallas Police Department officer and his family was destroyed in an overnight fire.
The community is rallying together to raise funds and donations for the family who lost everything in the fire on the eve of Christmas.
The fire was reported just after 7:30 p.m. and firefighters from Forney, Crandall, Terrell, and Mesquite responded to the 10000 block of Wild Rose Circle, north of the city limits of Forney in Kaufman County.
First responding fire units reported heavy smoke and fire from the roof and rear of the residence. Firefighters fought the blaze overnight.
21-year Dallas Police Department veteran Gerardo Guardiola, his wife, children, and extended family escaped the fire without injury.
Monetary donations for the family are being accepted through the Assist The Officer (ATO) Foundation of Dallas at atodallas.org. When donating through the ATO, designate any donations to the Guardiola family.
Additionally, clothing and Christmas gifts can be donated at Forney Salon Suites where Guardiola’s wife, Elizabeth, is a stylist. Clothing sizes include: Gerardo's shirt size XL, pant size 38 waist, and shoe size 10; Elizabeth's shirt size medium, pants size 8-10, and shoe size 8 1/2; daughter, age 12, shirt and pant sizes 14/16 and women's shoe size 8 1/2; and son, age 9, shirt and pant size 10 and shoe size 4.
In the meantime, the Dallas Police Association and the Assist the Officer Foundation are assisting the family with other financial needs as well as hotel accommodations.
