Local musician loses almost everything in Gulf Shores house fire

GULF SHORES, Ala. ( WKRG ) — A local musician lost almost everything after a fire erupted just before daybreak at a home in the Crimson Ridge neighborhood off Coastal Gateway Boulevard.

“I got up to see what it was and I just saw smoke and Donna had moved to a front bedroom in the middle of the night about four. I went in and woke her up and by then the house was starting to fill up with smoke,” said local musician and guitarist, Donnie Mathis.

With flames engulfing the home, there was little time to do anything but get out. “We can replace everything else he got his two prized guitars out,” says Donna Mathis.

Better known as “Delta,” Donnie is a regular performer around the Gulf Coast. One of those guitars was a gift from his Father more than 60 years ago. “That’s the first thing I grabbed,” says Donnie. “Luckily it was right by the door as we were running out of the house.”

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the fire started while the Mathis’ contemplate what’s next. “I don’t know we’re pretty old to start over,” says Donna with a laugh.

“We’re okay,” adds Donnie. “We’ll make it. We will.”

They already have what’s most important, each other.

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