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Authorities: 911 dispatch supervisor working when his Pasco County home was set on fire

Police: Same home broken into twice, set on fire
Posted at 10:14 PM, Feb 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-21 07:20:22-05

A 911 dispatch supervisor and his two children are looking for a new place to live after authorities said their home was set on fire.

Nathan Williams works in Pasco County. He was on the job when the report of the house fire came in, Saturday afternoon.

"I'm sitting there and I see my address pop up and I see structure fire," Williams said.

Authorities are investigating the arson. They said the home was broken into before it was set on fire. Williams salvaged some items, but most of it was destroyed in the fire.

"You took everything away from my kids, you know. How do you get that back," Williams said.

Williams has a 9-year-old son and a 6-year-old son.

"The 9-year-old took it fairly well when we talked about it. He got quiet, but the 6-year-old hard to fathom (the thought) I don't have anything," Williams said.

According to authorities, Williams home was also broken into the day before. Williams said a number of electronics were stolen.

"It's hard to believe it's not connected. I mean that seems too much of a coincidence for two situations like that, you know, back to back," Williams said.

Since the house fire, there has been an overwhelming amount of support for his family.

"This is our work family and we stick together," Kathy Hertzog, a Pasco County 911 dispatch supervisor, said.

Hertzog said dispatchers, friends, and strangers have already donated items and money to help Williams' family.

"There's just a big rally around him and the boys to just make it…make life better again so that this tragedy hopefully can go away," Hertzog said.

Authorities are looking into whether Friday's break-in is connected to Saturday's arson investigation.

"I hate to say I'm blessed after everything, but it's weird with all the support I'm getting, it's almost hard not to say that," Williams said.

If you have any information about these cases, contact 1(800) 706-2488 or the Pasco County Fire Marshals office at (813) 929-2750.

For more information on donating, go to: www.gofundme.com/3eg4wo8.

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