MESA, AZ – Firefighters responded to a Mesa home to find two neighbors attempting to battle flames and rescue a woman they thought was inside on Wednesday morning.
"I heard a big giant bang and it was an explosion," said neighbor T.J. William Mansfield.
Mike Dunn with the Mesa Fire Department said several neighbors called 911 around 3:15 a.m. to report a fire at the home near the U.S. 60 and Baseline Road.
SEE PICTURES OF THE FIGHT IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO SLIDESHOW
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they reportedly found one neighbor on top of his roof trying to put out the fire.
Dunn said they also found another neighbor who had received a cut to his arm after he tried to break into the home because he wasn't sure if the elderly female resident was inside and he was attempting to rescue her.
"It could have been worse, he put his life on the line," said a neighbor who called himself Cody.
Homeowner Elsie Harrison was staying with family and was not at the home at the time of the fire.
"Everything is gone," Harrison said.
On Wednesday Harrison sifted through the ashes looking for anything to salvage.
"It looks like this is the end, wow," she said.
She is glad she wasn't home and now she can look to the future.
"I'll just have to go from here and I hope I can recover," Harrison said.
Thirty firefighters from Apache Junction, Mesa, and Gilbert responded to the scene to battle the flames. None of them were injured
Dunn said the cause of the fire is unknown, however it looks like the home is a complete loss.
