Savage man jumps out of window in fire, family seeks support

A Savage family is seeking help after their house was destroyed in a fire Thursday. The townhome was a total loss, and a 20-year-old man is in the hospital after jumping from a second-story window to escape.

Flames were shooting out of the second floor of the home when firefighters arrived on the scene, and the backside walls had collapsed, KSTP reports.

Crews tried to enter the structure but had to leave the main level because the second floor was collapsing.

TJ McCorkle was sleeping in the upstairs room when the fire broke out. WCCO reports when he woke up, the room was filled with smoke, and flames came into the room when he opened the door. He jumped from the window, badly burned.

His mother, Theresa Crockett, was away at the time, at a doctor's appointment with her younger son Trayvon, who has muscular dystrophy.

Crockett's daughter Terriana McCorkle, and Terriana's 4-year-old son, also lived in the home.

"I almost lost my son, then we got to deal with [Trayvon's illness], and I'm homeless, no vehicle... so this, this is too much, too much," Crockett tells KMSP.

The family has had their share of hardships. Crockett's home was burglarized last summer. She uses her daughter's SUV for transportation, but it has broken down twice and isn't handicap accessible. The family's damage wasn't covered by renter's insurance.

An online fund has been set up for the family. Donations can also be dropped off at any TCF Bank under the McCorkle Family Benefit Fund.