House fire leaves Las Cruces couple, 2 kids without a home
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KTSM) — Just a few days ago, Antoinette Reyes had just finished holiday shopping and was almost done planning her 9-year-old’s birthday party set for next weekend. But her world came crashing down this past Tuesday when her rental home went up in flames just two days ahead of Thanksgiving.
2 residents, 2 cats displaced after Las Cruces house fire
“Because they have to replace so much in the house, it’s considered unlivable. My rental company the next day gave me a notice to pay rent on the first for somewhere I can’t (live), and now I have to find a new place (to live),” Reyes said.
For two years, Reyes and her partner have rented the house at the 3900 block of Crystal Place that went up in flames this past Tuesday, Nov. 26, and the Las Cruces Fire Department knocked down.
Reyes said she left home for about an hour and a half to run some errands while her partner slept. During that span, a fire sparked at the side porch of the home that eventually spread out through the attic.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and Reyes said they do not have any idea of what could have started it.
Reyes said that thanks to a watchful neighbor, her partner, and their pets were able to get out safely in time.
“He was woken up by a firefighter inside who rushed him out,” Reyes said. “My next-door neighbor fortunately saw the fire, saw the couch on fire. He had a fire extinguisher in his house and tried to put the fire out himself, and he called it in.”
Reyes said the damages to the house were too severe from the fire and flooding as firefighters worked to knock the flames down.
The couple is now left with little time to find solutions.
Reyes said they are struggling to find a new rental unit, and that the owners of the property – Steinborn Better Homes and Garden – are billing them the full rent due in just two days. She also said they did not have renters’ insurance.
But what is troubling Reyes the most is figuring out how she will explain to her two children what happened to their home when they return from their Thanksgiving trip with their father.
“Luckily my kids weren’t here. I know I need to tell my kids soon, but I’m still figuring out how. They’re nine and eleven, so they’re old enough to kind of understand. (But) I know it’s going to be pretty traumatic. Especially since I don’t have a lot of the answers to (tell them) if their stuff’s okay,” Reyes said.
Reyes said she was able to recover some of her clothes from the house but cannot go inside to see what is salvageable until the homeowner’s insurance does their inspection, and because the LCFD officers told her the inside of the house is hazardous as any debris from the roof could fall off at any point.
Reyes said they have been able to stay at a hotel the past few nights with the help of the City of Las Cruces and her job who have covered their stay, while their dog and two of their cats have been taken care of by some of her neighbors.
But to add insult to injury, Reyes said someone broke into the home during the past few nights they have been away.
She said that from what she has been able to tell, they do not have her children’s Nintendo Switch (gaming console), art tools, security cameras, Amazon packages, a tattoo machine, and other valuable items.
While their current situation is overwhelming, Reyes said she has gotten at least a drop of relief from the support she has received in the short time.
“(I’m) really thankful for the generosity of strangers. Especially the way some of my neighbors have helped in the ways they have. I’ve been surprised, especially with the GoFundMe, my boss shared it with a few people, and people that didn’t know me have contributed, and that really shocked me, but it made me feel like maybe we might end up okay at the end of it,” Reyes said.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help the family with the costs of finding a new place to live.
Reyes said they are also looking for help from someone who can foster their dog or any of their five cats as they find a new place.
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