FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Seven people are displaced and without a home after escaping fast-moving flames during an afternoon fire on Thesta and Grant in Fresno.
The family of seven says they are devastated.
One resident, Jerry Bower, is seen carrying a small gray box as he walks out of his charred home with all he has left.
“One minute, it was at the back door. The next thing I knew, it was engulfed all the way up to the top, windows busted out, smoke coming out,” recalls Jerry.
The home is now a complete loss.
The Fresno City Fire Department is still investigating what caused the fire and says the fire was fast-moving.
“This home here is actually an older style home, Victorian era, that was one of the concerns. Just based on the construction of the home, we actually requested additional firefighters to help,” explains Josh Sellers with the Fresno Fire Department.
They say 40 fire personnel showed up. One firefighter sustained an eye injury during the firefight and was treated at the scene.
Seven people lived in the home, including Jerry, his cousin Janette, and her four children, aged 8 to 24.
“Thank God each and every one who was here was actually downstairs. Nobody had to run upstairs, search for anyone and that was good, and both our dogs made it out,” expresses Jerry.
