FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno family of six is working to rebuild after a Fourth of July fire destroyed their home and everything they owned.
Ana Torres says the family had just returned home the night of July 4th when her daughter noticed flames coming from a neighboring property.
“When we came back it was like around 10 o’clock and the kids still wanted to see the fireworks,” Torres said. “My daughter started screaming there’s a fire on the side of the house.”
Torres believes illegal fireworks may have sparked the fire, saying she saw them going off overhead before the flames spread.
She says a palm tree caught fire and sparks reached her backyard.
Firefighters were able to put out the flames that night.
Torres says the home itself did not catch fire at that time.
But the following day, Torres says she noticed smoke coming from the property.
She tried to grab a garden hose, but says the fire was already spreading too quickly.
“I just ran inside and got my kids out of the house,” Torres said.
Torres says she and her four children escaped safely, but they had no time to save their belongings.
Because the family was renting the home and did not have renters’ insurance, they are now facing the challenge of replacing everything they lost, including clothing, shoes, furniture, household essentials, and personal items.
“It’s hard because now I can’t provide what my kids want,” Torres said. “It’s like I can’t buy this right now. We have to wait.”
The family is currently staying with Torres’ parents while they search for a new place to call home.
A GoFundMe has been created to help the family cover immediate needs as they begin the process of starting over.