NEWARK, Ohio -The mother of three had just closed on her new Habitat for Humanity Home the day before. She had returned her moving truck earlier that same evening. And around 10 p.m. Saturday night, Natalie Hosom's brand new home was up in smoke. Brittany Park and her two boys had moved in next door about a week and a half earlier. Her home was in the same situation Saturday.

NEWARK, Ohio �The mother of three had just closed on her new Habitat for Humanity Home the day before. She had returned her moving truck earlier that same evening.

And around 10 p.m. Saturday, Natalie Hosom�s brand new home was up in smoke.

Brittany Park and her two boys had moved in next door about a week and a half earlier. Her home was in the same situation Saturday.

The completion of the two Habitat houses on Parker Avenue involved about 6,000 hours of volunteer time.

It only took about 90 minutes to reduce each to a smoky, sooty skeleton of a home.

�We hadn�t even had a chance to meet them yet,� said Renae Stewart of her now-displaced neighbors. Her house next door was partially damaged from the heat of the flames.

It could have been worse, of course. Both homes were destroyed, but everyone got out safely, and no one was injured.

�You can always find more wood and bricks and windows,� said E.J. Thomas, CEO for Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio. �But you can�t replace a life.�

Fire investigators haven�t yet ruled on the cause of the blaze, but believe it was accidental.

Insurance coverage will help rebuild the homes, Thomas said, but Habitat for Humanity has started an emergency fund and is seeking donations to support the families in the meantime.

Thomas said there�s a misconception that Habitat homes are simply given to families that need them. Families go through a lengthy process of applying for a home, work on the project with the organization and ultimately agree to pay a no-interest mortgage.

�At the end of the process, when they actually get the keys to their home, in many ways it�s transformative for them,� he said.

Charred clothing was scattered among the fire rubble Monday. Children�s books lay torn and burnt in the front yard that still had fresh straw scattered on top.

�They�re doing about as well as anybody could do who�s had this happen,� Thomas said of the displaced families. �It�s almost difficult to imagine what feelings would go through your mind and your heart watching that occur.�

Donations are being accepted at http://www.habitatmidohio.org/PhoenixEmergencyFund.

jsmola@dispatch.com

@jennsmola