MESA, AZ — A mobile home was destroyed in a fire Monday morning in Mesa, killing more than a dozen animals.
Crews were called to the fire at a mobile home park near Main Street and Hawes Road around 5:30 a.m.
Rural Metro Fire officials at the scene say the cause of the fire is under investigation, and there were reports of explosions during the blaze.
"It was really intense," explained neighbor Kevin Hein, who's lived in the East Mesa mobile home community for more than 20 years. "I jumped out of bed."
The homeowner, Rebecca Scott, was not home when the fire broke out, but five dogs and 12 cats were inside.
Hein said he saw neighbors taking action, trying to coax animals out of the mobile home. It's something that gave Scott hope as she searched for two of her cats she believed may still be alive and could have escaped.
"I was just totally devastated," Scott told ABC15's Nick Ciletti, shortly after returning home to find she had lost everything in the fire. "Those poor babies! They didn't deserve this. That was my biggest concern - the dogs and the cats. They didn't deserve this. They had to be scared."
Scott told us late Monday night that she was able to find one of her cats. The second cat that she believed may have survived is still missing.
"They're my family," explained Scott. "They're my life."
A friend set up a GoFundMe page for Scott since she does not have insurance on the home. Count on ABC15 to follow up when we learn more.
The fire did some minor damage to neighboring homes and other buildings, but crews were able to keep the fire mostly contained to the single residence.
Earlier in the morning, firefighters in Phoenix battled multiple other fires, including one at a restaurant and another at a tire shop.
