CARROLLTON, Ga. — A Carroll County deputy and his family are heartbroken after they lost everything in a house fire on Thursday afternoon.
The fire happened at their home along Mote Road around 2 p.m.
Deputy Kyle Hilton has been with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office since 2022 and currently serves as a school resource officer.
Now, Kyle and his wife, Darla Hilton, their 5-year-old daughter and 1-and-a-half-year-old son are trying to figure out where they'll live next after the flames ripped through their home.
"Darla had left the house to go pick up our daughter from school, and I was at my grandmother's for about five minutes; by the time I looked out the window-- the house was already in flames," Kyle recalled. "I ran down to try to see what I could do, but it was too late."
The Hilton family said their home has fire, water and smoke, and the attic's ceiling also collapsed.
"It's a disaster," they said.
Deputy Kyle Hilton had also been recovering from an on-duty injury before the fire happened.
"We were doing sheriff's office camp, and I was playing volleyball with the kids, and when I came down, my knee gave out," he said. "I had surgery about five weeks ago and they replaced my ACL."
Story continues below gallery.
Photos | The Hilton family
The Hilton family said it could be nearly a year before they can move back into their home.
Kyle's sister-in-law, Hazel LaBarge, has set up an online fundraiser on their behalf. The Hilton family said they are in need of children's items, hygiene supplies and cleaning supplies for when they are able to move back in.
"They both love giving back to Carrollton and could now use the community's support as they go through this traumatic situation with their two children, who also experienced this firsthand," LaBarge wrote in the fundraiser.
The sheriff's office said a Donate Stripe fundraiser was also set up for the family.
"I'm not letting anything keep us down," Kyle said. "We're going to keep our heads up and praise God."
If you would like to donate, click here.
