Elderly Couple Needs Help After Devastating Fire

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Ashlie Hardway

SPARKS — Javier Rosa and his wife Socorro have lived in their Sparks mobile home for more than 20 years. It was the home on the plot of land Javier worked years as a construction worker to afford. Tuesday, their hard work, memories and home went up in smoke.

“You really can’t imagine losing everything in a matter of minutes,” said their niece, Bertha Nieto. “It’s just total devastation,” she told ABC-7.

Fire investigators say someone was illegally burning items when the blaze spread to two nearby homes. Both were destroyed. Sheriff’s investigators say whoever started the blaze, in the middle of a burn ban, could face criminal charges, hefty fines, or both.

At the end of the day, it’s not enough, says Nieto. “It took his entire life to build this, to buy the land and set this up and bring his family here…It’s the American dream to own a piece of America, and this was their little piece of America. This was their effort, this was their work…Now he’s got nothing, he’s got nothing.”

The Rosas are incapable of rebuilding their home on their own. They’re asking for any sort of help. If you would like to donate goods or services, contact Nieto at bertha_nieto@hotmail.com.