Pastor counts his blessings after fire

FRANKLIN, Va. - A Franklin Pastor who lost everything in a fire is now counting his blessings. Earlier this week, flames destroyed Bishop James Ashby's home. The family barely escaped the flames.

Bishop Ashby, Senior Pastor of the Franklin Church of God, says what happened was a miracle and that there is no other way to explain it. He believes someone was looking out for his family.

The Ashby's home, located right next door to the church on Carrsville Highway, is destroyed.

"I started smelling the smoke," said Ashby. Bishop Ashby says the sight of flames followed. His first thought was to get his sons out of bed, but fire was blocking their door.

"I just went to the side wall and started pounding on the wall and I didn't hear them respond," added Ashby.

He then went back for his wife, daughter and two grandchildren, but didn't know if his sons were still alive.

As soon as he got outside, the two boys came walking around the house. They climbed out through a bedroom window. Everyone was safe, but their home and everything inside lost.

Pastor Ashby, however, says he has everything he needs. "That is priceless," he said, "Priceless when you think you've lost them and they are back and the rest of it does not matter at that point. You can rebuild."

The pastor says he is overwhelmed with the community's outpouring of support. People they've never met have donated clothing and other items. He tells us the family plans to rebuild soon.

Investigators say an electrical short in the attic sparked the fire.