It could have been a deadly incident, in addition to being a tragic fire.
Instead, a neighbor came to the rescue.
Jason Cruz and his family lived in a home that erupted on flames on Sunday. The fire destroyed his house, a boat, and a car.
Cruz was preparing the boat for a fishing trip and had left to get supplies when the fire broke out. Fortunately, neighbor Tom Owens saw the fire and broke into action.
Owens called 9-1-1, then raced into the house, finding Cruz’s father and the family pets, and escorted them to safety.
Cruz is thrilled that his family is ok, but the loss of the home is tough to swallow.
"I’m at a loss for words, mostly," said Cruz. "It all happened so fast, now everything is just gone."
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