Community comes together after family food truck catches fire

DECATUR COUNTY, Tenn. — The family owned food truck, Tennessee River Pirate, began as a logo for a boat flag and eventually became a community favorite.

However, on Sunday morning, April 20, this family woke up to their business on fire.

Just shy away from their five year anniversary, this business has made a lasting impression on their community.

What started as a logo became a symbol for their hard work.

“We came up with this logo to actually put on aprons to sell and then we got an opportunity to sell a food truck business,” said Jason Copley, Owner of the Tennessee River Pirate.

Jason Copley’s wife was the first to see this food truck in flames on Sunday morning around 1 a.m.

“Immediately when we got outside we pretty much knew you’re watching your business go down. And at that point you’re just getting your family out the house and tryna keep your home catching fire because its parked right beside our house,” said Copley.

Because of how close the food truck was to their home, this unfortunate event could have been even worse.

“So luckily our volunteer fire department here in town and they were here within 20 minutes they were at the house and they got it put out right before it got to the fuel tank and the propane tank. So it would probably be a different story,” said Copley.

In the other room of their home, his daughter, Aspen Allen was awoken to the bad news.

Allen then began crying just at the sight.

“Because when you see something so devastating like that it’s heartbreaking- I don’t want to start crying- seeing them work so hard to accomplish their dream and how we had to put money back to save up for the food truck… it’s just it hurts you,” said Allen.

For this family the overall support from the community has been beneficial.

“I may be going through something bad but my friends and my teachers like… I’ve never hugged my teachers before but I did this week it was just something that was so amazing and it just really shows how human beings can come together and be a community,” said Allen.

Other local food trucks and businesses have rallied together to support their family.

“Its overwhelming the support we have gotten. They’re having a benefit this Saturday at robins nest in parsons and they’re selling food and desserts,” said Copley.

This family shared that the smell of the fire still lingers around their home and reminds them of this incident all over again.

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