Last Wednesday began as a normal day for the Tovar family in Tivoli. County employee Ramon Tovar stayed home from work to go to a doctor’s appointment in Victoria, Sandra went to her normal job as a home health care provider, and their twin daughters, Vanessa and Veronica, and son, Juan, drove to Victoria, where they attend college.

Less than 30 minutes after leaving his home, Juan received a call from his wife that he’ll never forget. The family’s home of 11 years was engulfed in flames.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Juan said. “I had just left the house.”

News travels fast in the small community of Tivoli. Minutes later a friend of Veronica and Vanessa sent a text message to another friend. Reluctant to share the bad news, their friend hesitated.

“She didn’t want to tell me at first,” Veronica said. “Then she told me my house was burning.”

The Tivoli Fire Department volunteers arrived quickly with their new brush truck but little could be done. Brush trucks are equipped to put out grass fires. Refugio VFD was dispatched as well but it took 45 minutes. Austwell volunteers arrived minutes later. By the time help arrived, the Tovar home was doomed.

Their residence and everything inside was destroyed. Their cat and three puppies were overcome by the smoke and died. The girls’ expensive college textbooks went up in flames. The computer where their college work was stored is in a heap of rubble. Nothing is salvageable.

Sandra said she is disappointed that Tivoli doesn’t have a truck capable of putting out a house fire.

“I think Tivoli should have had a truck like the rest of the county,” Sandra said.

Right now, the family has nothing but at the top of the list of requirements are replacement textbooks for their daughters.

The twins are studying to become registered nurses. Their books are vital. Juan is studying electronics technology. Luckily, he had his textbooks with him but the computer with all his months of work stored is gone.

The family had no insurance, so Ramon says the family will clean up the rubble and start over.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Port Lavaca to help them get back on their feet again.