6-Year-Old Boy's Apartment Destroyed On 1st Day Of School

TAMPA, FL — After a fire destroyed his home in Tampa on his first day of school, the community is coming together to help replace a 6-year-old boy's back-to-school clothes and supplies.

Zikyi Monlin was looking forward to his first day back at the Woodmont Charter School, said relatives. His school uniform was laid out and his backpack loaded with back-to-school supplies when a fire broke out at his apartment complex early Monday morning.

Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Penny said the 911 call came in at 5:15 a.m. When firefighters arrived, flames and smoke were pouring from an upstairs unit at the Pebblewood Apartments, 11316 N. 52nd St., just south of Fowler Avenue. After making sure no one was trapped inside the two-story apartment building, firefighters began tackling the flames to prevent them from spreading through the common attic.

When the fire was finally doused about 35 minutes later, 19 people, including seven children, were left without homes.

According to the fire investigator's report, the fire originated inside the southeast corner of apartment unit 15. Investigators determined it was caused by an electrical malfunction in a Power Wheels motorized car. Damage to that unit alone is estimated at $40,000.

While everyone made it out safely, four apartment units, including the one occupied by Lexis Monlin and her son, Zikyi, were destroyed.

The American Red Cross is providing temporary homes for the displaced residents. However, those four families lost nearly everything they owned.

Lexis Monlin's cousin, Linette Moore, has started a GoFundMe page to help the single mother and her son replace their belongings.

"Her and her 6-year-old made it out alive, but she lost everything," said Moore. "She needs whatever you can give. Losing everything is a hard pill to swallow especially when you have a 6-year-old wondering where his toys and clothes went or why he can’t go home."

Lexis Monlin ventures back into her apartment after it was gutted by fire Monday morning.

After learning of the fire, Moore said she immediately reached out to Shaqwana Morrell Reed, director of the before- and after-school program at Woodmont Charter School, 10402 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace. Reed immediately stepped in and, with the help of fellow staff members, made sure the little boy had everything he needed to attend school Monday despite the tragedy.

However, Moore said both the child and mother are still in need of clothes and shoes. Zikyi wears size 7 clothes and size 13 1/2 to size 1 shoes. His mother wears a size 20 in clothes and size 10 shoes.

Moore can be contacted through her Facebook page for anyone who wishes to make clothing donations. Funds can be donated directly to the GoFundMe page. Moore hopes to raise $5,000 for her cousin.

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