VIDEO: A Phoenix family is dealing with the loss of their home, which was destroyed in a late-night fire on Tuesday. All five family members made it out safely, but they’re now feeling immense loss after their four pets died in the fire. Ray Lerma spent the day on Wednesday hunting through piles of debris for any little memory. “I feel lucky and blessed my family made it out,” he said. “That’s all I care about; all of this can be fixed and replaced. You can’t replace family.” Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, Lerma got a call saying his home was on fire.
“My son-in-law came and knocked on the door and told my wife he smelled smoke,” Lerma said. “She came outside and it was on fire.” The fire began in the garage. It didn’t take long for the flames to consume the structure. “My neighbor Jim showed me just how quick it went up and it was just, in a matter of seconds, everything was gone, just a flash, just devastating,” he said. All five family members made it out unharmed, including Lerma’s 84-year-old father with Alzheimer’s. “He’s heartbroken,” Lerma said.
The family’s two dogs and two cats, though, didn’t survive. Thieves also targeted their home after the fire, taking clothes and some personal belongings. “We lost everything, but we have each other still,” he said. “And I’m thankful for that.” As officials figure out the fire’s cause, Lerma says he’s trying to stay strong and is leaning on the kindness of others to get through the heartbreak. “Your support and prayers, thank you,” he said.
