ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Willie Mitchell escaped without injury Saturday night when his home of nearly 15 years erupted in flames, destroying everything he owned.

According to his family, Mitchell was frying French fries in his home on Twinflower Road when the cooking grease caught fire. The blaze quickly spread from the kitchen throughout the house.

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Neighbor James Etta Harvey said Mitchell sat on her porch and watched firefighters battle the flames.

“I know it was disturbing for him to see something like that,” Harvey said. “He just sat there with his head down.”

Multiple Albany Fire Department trucks arrived to contain the fire, but the flames had already spread viciously, causing Mitchell’s roof to collapse. The fire even jumped to his neighbor’s house, damaging their roof as well.

Mitchell’s sister-in-law, Karen Thomas, said he has been living alone since his wife died two years ago. In that time, he has endured multiple hardships: his wife’s death, surgery for a brain aneurysm, and now the loss of his home.

“I’m sad because I know my brother-in-law [and his wife] worked hard to have all of this. And now everything is gone in a matter of moments,” Thomas said. “He’s down to starting over again.”

Two days later, Thomas walked through the charred remains, remembering belongings that once filled the home — now covered in ashes.

“This is devastating. He is a family man and loves to cook and entertain us and feed the family,” Thomas said.

Mitchell’s family said the next steps are providing him with basic necessities like clothing, shoes, and toiletries as he begins rebuilding his life.

Neighbors on Twinflower Road said there will be a neighborhood meeting to organize donations to support Mitchell as he gets back on his feet.

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