A Montgomery County family counted their blessings as the New Year was ushered in following an early morning fire that destroyed their home New Year’s Eve morning.
The family of five, including three boys — ages 14, 9 and 5 — lost everything as a result of the blaze, which occurred in the 2800 block of Mississippi Highway 404 East in Duck Hill.
Community members in both Montgomery and Grenada counties immediately began rallying together to assist the family with immediate as well as future needs.
“In an instant, the fire took everything – we lost our home, all our possessions, clothing, furniture, family photos, keepsakes and irreplaceable memories built over years,” the homeowner, BJ McKay, wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page. “We escaped safely and are now facing the overwhelming task of starting over from nothing. Thankfully, everyone made it out safely, but the emotional and financial toll is immense.”
His wife, Meggie, a speech language pathologist for the Grenada School District, took to social media New Year’s Day morning to express her thankfulness.
“Our lives are forever changed, but we are thankful,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “We have been overwhelmed by this tragedy, but also by the outpouring of love and support from the first responders, our community, church, family and friends. Above all, we thank God no one was hurt. In the middle of devastation, He protected us and that is a gift we will never take for granted.”
According to Duck Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Woods, the department received the fire call at 8:54 a.m., arrived on the scene at 9:15 a.m., had it under control at 11:37 a.m. and cleared the scene at 12:39 p.m.
Only the deck and some charred walls were left following the New Year’s Eve blaze that claimed the McKay family’s home in Duck Hill. | Photo by Peyton Poe © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
“The owners and their children were in the house when the fire started,” he said. “They were able to get out safely and get some possessions out. Once on the scene and fire fighting began, we were able to get a few more possessions out, but the house itself was a total loss.”
Chief Woods added that Elliott Volunteer Fire Department personnel was dispatched to the scene to provide mutual aid, particularly water and manpower.
“Without their help, we couldn’t have saved what we did,” Chief Woods concluded. “Mutual aid and working together is crucial. This fire was 10 or 11 miles from the closest fire hydrant and we were able to keep water flowing with their tanker and ours constantly going back-and-forth to town.”
In total, Chief Woods estimated that 20,000 gallons of water was used to fight the blaze.
Since the fire, monetary donations have been flowing in daily on the family’s GoFundMe page. As of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, more than $14,000 had been donated by more than 140 donors.
“We have been so blessed by the outpouring of generosity, love and prayers,” BJ McKay said. “We are currently staying at our church house with plans on renting something in the near future. We are beyond blessed to be celebrating life with our three boys instead of visiting them in the hospital or worse. Our family has shared so many memories, prayers and tears with so many people over the last couple of days. Thank you all for lifting us up in your prayers.
All three of the couple’s boys are enrolled in the Grenada School District.
Immediate needs include clothing. The family’s sizes are listed below:
Father: Underwear: men’s large boxer briefs, shirts: large or extra-large, jeans: 36x32, pants: large or extra-large, and shoes: 11
Mother: Underwear: medium, sports bras: medium, shirts: medium, pants: 8 short or medium, and shoes: 7
Boy, 14: Underwear: men’s small boxer brief, shirts: men’s small, pants: small, jeans: 30x32, and shoes: 8 ½.
Boy, 9: Underwear: 14/16 boxer briefs, shirts: 14/16, pants: 14/16, jeans: 12 husky, and shoes: 5 ½ youth
Boy, 5: Underwear: 6/7 boxer briefs, bottoms: 6 slim, shirts: 6, shoes: 11.
Household items, gift cards or monetary donations are also being accepted. Donations can be dropped off at The Grenada Star office located at 355 W. Monroe St., between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Monetary donations can also be made on the family’s GoFundMe page by visiting: https://gofund.me/140794596 or point your smartphone using the built-in camera app at the QR code below until a notification pops up, then tap the notification to open the website.
The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation, according to Chief Woods.
