RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond woman is grateful to be alive after flames tore through her home Sunday afternoon.
A large fire destroyed 74-year-old Josine Osborne’s home in the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 25. She had lived in that home since 1981. According to Richmond police, she was at church when the fire tore through her house.
Just before 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Richmond Fire Department crews responded to a home on the corner of N. 28th Street and Kane Street for the report of a fire.
Crews on scene were able to extinguish the flames. However, after a more than five-hour long extensive search effort, they found no one inside of the home.
According to fire officials, the investigation into the fire could not proceed until they either located the missing person or confirmed they were not in the home.
At 5 p.m., Richmond police reported that the missing person, now identified as Osborne, had been found.
“I just thank God for being able to stand right here because I could have been asleep,” Osborne said.
According to Richmond Fire officials, when they arrived on scene, smoke could be seen coming out of the front side of the home, along with the window and garage area.
Richmond resident Stephen Perks lives three doors down from where the house fire took place and heard the fire trucks and first responders that arrived on scene.
“I [then] realized they were on the surface streets and by the second wave of sirens, I took my head out the window and realized that they were pulling onto Main Street,” Perks said. “When I came out the door, I saw the smoke billowing up over the trees and realized it was one of the immediate neighbors.”
Despite Osborne’s home being destroyed by the fire, she remains positive and grateful for those who were concerned for her.
“I should be crying. I should be out of my mind, but all the things that matter are being here tonight and being able to have people that are concerned about me,” Osborne said. “I know God didn’t allow this to happen unless I’m going to get a bigger place and I’m looking forward to it.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Osborne has confirmed to 8News she is receiving assistance from the Richmond division of the American Red Cross.
