Family Loses Everything To House Fire
When the Montana Vista Fire and Rescue crew arrived on the scene of a house fire on the 1300 block of Boots Green Lane, little could be done.
According to Capt. Wendy Young, a fire had likely been underway for more than an hour before anyone noticed. She believes the fire, which left a few cement walls and little else behind, was caused by electrical wiring in the ceiling.
Once the fire made it through the roof, it was fueled by the rush of oxygen causing the ceiling to collapse quickly.
?I?ve never been in this situation before, I didn?t know what to do,? said Agnes Mercado, the homeowner who was inside when the fire first ignited. ?The home was full of smoke and I began to gag so I ran out.?
Mercado said the home was built by her and her husband nearly 15 years ago. They put everything they had into the home.
As firefighters continued to work to put out flames, she said it was hard to wrap her head around everything that was occurring.
?I was going to sleep in today. I couldn?t sleep so I got up,” she said. “If I would have been asleep I wouldn?t be here talking to you right now.?
As if losing her home wasn?t heartbreaking enough, Mercado?s grandson who lives inside her home was celebrating his 18th birthday Monday. Instead of receiving presents, he was allowed out of school in time to see that the place he called home was destroyed.
Fire crews, meanwhile, continued to knock out hot spots on debris left inside the home?s cement walls.
Ten firefighters responded to the initial call, but only eight stayed on the scene. Two firefighters, new to the job, had to be looked at by medical personnel on scene. Young said they didn?t have injuries, but weren?t used to the strenuous work.
?This is very, very strenuous work and it takes a lot of effort,? said Young.
The American Red Cross was on-site to help with the Mercado family for lodging in the coming days. The family did have insurance, so they believe they will be okay in the days ahead. However, Mercado said she doesn?t believe her insurance covers the items lost inside her home.
