KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The morning before Thanksgiving flames and smoke soared out of Greg Parr's home.
At the time he was in Raytown, housesitting for a friend. A neighbor alerted him with a phone call.
"That person that called me said that she believes there were two bodies found in the house," Parr told 41 Action News Friday.
When he showed up to the house at the corner of 42nd and Locust St., firefighters confirmed what he feared -- that his brother and oldest son were gone.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Parr said.
It's the latest blow for Parr who now devotes his time helping those struggling with addiction.
"I've been sober for 23 years now by God's grace, but he helped me when I was homeless," Parr said.
He's referring to his brother, Chris Parr, who moved in with him four years ago after he lost his own house in a fire in North Carolina.
The Army veteran would have turned 61 this upcoming Nov. 30.
Investigators told Parr they believe the fire started in a room on the first floor where his son, Romero Parr, was sleeping.
The 38-year-old Maryland native was staying with his dad and working at Char Bar.
The smoke detectors in the house weren't working, according to KCFD.
That's why now Parr plans to remind every person he meets of this simple message.
"It's important to make sure those batteries are working," Parr said, teary-eyed.
KCFD is still working to determine what sparked the fire in the first place.
Funeral services for both men are still in the works.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with funeral expenses and damage costs.
