PHOENIX — The Phoenix Fire Department says multiple people were injured after a house fire Friday morning.
Crews were called to the area of Cave Creek Road and Sweetwater Avenue around 9 a.m. for a house fire.
Video from the scene showed flames billowing from a home in the area with the fire extending to multiple vehicles and another home.
Crews were reportedly met with dangerous conditions, including multiple surrounding structures on fire, downed power lines, and exploding propane tanks.
Fire crews say a man in his 30s suffered third-degree burns while attempting to get back into the burning home to save a lost animal.
“It’s gone…gone. Completely demolished,” said Rey Quinones when talking about his home.
Rey and his dad, Dave Quinones are heartbroken. While they were able to get out, four out of their five dogs didn’t make it.
“Those dogs were my everything, and now that I’ve lost them, I don’t know what to do,” said Rey in tears.
Rey says he and his dad were sleeping when their dogs started barking.
“My son said get out there’s a fire,” said Dave.
Dave, a former firefighter, immediately sprang into action.
“I grabbed the hose and started putting water on the fence to try to keep the flames from coming over,” Dave told ABC15.
Rey was just trying to get the dogs out, but he just couldn't do it.
“The heat was so overwhelming,” said Rey’s dad.
“What I’m wearing right now is what I have to my name,” said Rey.
“Was anything saved?” asked ABC15.
“Nothing, besides this little girl,” he answered.
Lucy was the only dog that made it out, and the barking is the reason they did, too.
“You owe them your life,” said ABC15 to Rey.
“And I tried to save theirs. I tried to save theirs, but I couldn’t,” he responded in tears.
While Dave is okay, Rey was taken to the hospital.
ABC15 was there when he walked out of the emergency room.
“Second and third-degree burns from my knuckles to my arm,” said Rey.
Another family living on the property also lost two dogs. A woman in that household was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.
“I’m thankful that I have my dad, and our health, but like I said my dogs are everything to me. It’s just hard,” said Rey.
The father and son have started an online fundraiser to get them back on their feet.
They say they have a long road ahead but are confident the community will help them as they start over.
Hizain Camacho lives across the street and did his best to help when he saw the flames.
"I started to put water on it and knocked on the window,” said Camacho. "We were hosing down the home when we heard children.”
Camacho says he rushed behind the burning home and hopped a fence.
"I started breaking the glass [windows] and started hearing the screams,” added Camacho.
He then jumped inside the mobile home and saw the family trying to escape through the front door.
"And the fire was there. I said 'hey, come over here,” added Camacho. "They told me, 'Can you help me?' I said, 'Yes, I will. I'm here to help you. Let's go,’” added Camacho.
The American Red Cross told ABC15 they are helping the families, and that volunteers will come out to any fire to offer services, if they are called.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
