PHOENIX – The Red Cross is stepping in to help after more than a dozen Phoenix residents escaped flames when a fire broke out at their apartment complex early Monday.
Volunteers with the organization's Grand Canyon Chapter are helping 13 people, 10 of them children, affected by Monday's blaze.
The Red Cross said they will ensure everyone has a place to sleep as well as essentials like food and clothing. Caseworkers will also work the families involved and help get them on the road to recovery.
The Lopez family will likely get help from the organization, as they search for anything they can save from their home.
"I lost everything," said Maria Lopez. "It was just a flame, a big flame in the patio."
Dorian Jackson with the Phoenix Fire Department said the fire near 30th Street and Osborn was reported just before 4:30 a.m.
CLICK ON THE SLIDESHOW LINK TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENEWhen crews arrived on scene, they reportedly found a unit on the second floor with heavy flames.
Jackson said there were five people in the unit, including children.
The family was apparently able to see smoke coming from the back window and they were able to get out safely.
Jackson said a total of 17 people were able to get out safely and there were no injuries during the incident.
Crews also rescued one dog.
"My daughter said, 'mom come on lets get out there's a fire'," said Lopez.
It was just in the nick of time.
"We all got out on time which is good because after that, it started going wild," said Lopez.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
"We don't even know how it started," said Lopez. "I lost all my materialistic things but all that is replaceable."
The Lopez family knows it's time to start over.
"That's all I can do. Crying about it isn't going to solve nothing," said Lopez. "I'm lucky to be alive and my kids, that's all I'm thankful that were all still here and were still together."
They're together, but moving to a different apartment.
