Man Gets New RV After His Was Destroyed By Fire
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4)- You may be familiar with the movie "Miracle on 34th Street" about a man who claims to be Santa Claus. Well, this might just be a Miracle on 120th Avenue.
On Dec. 19, a fire believed started by a candle destroyed an RV where a man who would otherwise be homeless was living in Broomfield. But out of the flames came good fortune, something that was not apparent at the time.
"It was shocking fire devastating lost everything," said Jerry, who was living in the RV.
But at least he had his dog Lexus. Then Jerry met the manager of the IHOP at 4730 W. 120th Avenue in Wheat Ridge where he would have coffee, who turned out to be a better friend than he had ever imagined.
"I know the guy has no family, they abandoned him ... he has no place to stay," said Issam "Sam" Dechraou
So he bought Jerry a camper and with it came a place for it to stay, in the parking lot.
An act of kindness on a Christian holiday... from a man who is a Muslim originally from Morocco.
"I am not going to look at you if you're Muslim or Christian, Jerry is not Muslim… I don't care if he is Christian or Muslim," said Dechraou.
The old camper was destroyed by a candle, his source of warmth during cold days and nights.
"They had no heat, we lived in and average of 30 degrees in winter-- we're used to the cold," said Jerry.
For him, the new RV is luxury with a stove, running water and supplies.
"My last name is Clause, I have great Christmases, there is no worst. This is good," he said.
The North Metro Fire Department which put out the fire was on hand for the welcome home.
"I believe in what I can do," said Dechraou.
Jerry replied, 'He is the hardest working guy I know."
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
