Neighbors come together to support 10 displaced following weekend blaze; Mourn mother and daughter killed in fire

WILMINGTON ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Monday, families are planning two funerals after a weekend fire claimed the life of a mother and daughter at a Wilmington Island condo.

10 other residents from the complex are displaced. Neighbors are lending a helping hand to help get them back on their feet.

‘Building N’ of these condos went up in flames Saturday night around midnight, and into Sunday morning. A mother and a daughter lost their life.

Neighbors and surrounding communities have been dropping off donations to the 10 who lost their homes in this fire, up at the clubhouse at The Commons.

Piles of clothes and supplies now fill the lobby, including clothing, bathroom supplies, blankets, and new pillows.

“Everybody on the Island is very heartbroken over this. We couldn’t imagine the situation that these families would be in,” said a neighbor and volunteer, David Matthew.

Aside from the charred walls left behind, two flower vases stand on what was once the steps of Paula O’Brien’s home.

The 73-year-old was celebrating Thanksgiving with her visiting daughter.

Neighbors tell WTOC that Paula’s daughter tried to get her mother out of the window to escape the fire. Paula did make it out of the condo but died at the hospital.

45-year-old Karoline Motley did not make it out of her mother’s home. 

Two firefighters were back at this scene on Monday. The cause of the fire is unclear while the state fire marshal’s office investigates. 

Neighbors said that a propane tank didn’t start the fire, but blew up once the flames got started.

“It’s absolutely horrible. I remember my daughter was home from college, and we both heard all the sirens, looked out our back deck, and were able to see The Commons lit up on fire. It was very horrible, and we didn’t know that people had passed at that point, and it was still such a horrific event,” said Matthew.

This week, Neighbors are trying to collect food gift cards, Uber Eats cards, Visa gift cards, and hygiene items... Clothes are also a welcome donation, while these people go without a home in the meantime. 

Volunteers tell us, while these residents search for a new home and to rebuild, they are grateful for donations of furniture and other household items, but could use those donations in a couple of months instead.

They’re looking to just collect the essentials in the meantime.

One of the residents we spoke with, who lived in the demolished building, has started a GoFundMe. He and his wife just had a baby two weeks ago.

"The last thing our family was expecting after welcoming our newborn just 2 weeks ago was waking up to our home burning down. We ran out the home with just the clothes on our back and our family. We lost everything and are having to restart completely down to the shoes on our feet. We are extremely lucky to have made it out along with our fur children and are completely in shock as this is our worst nightmare come true. We are extremely grateful to have each other in these times and pray to get back on our feet soon. Keep us in your prayers during our devastating time."

Caitlin Moir

You can check out their story here.

If you’re interested in dropping off donations, you can do so at the Commons clubhouse during normal business hours.