A 10-year-old girl was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries following a mobile home fire in west Phoenix, reports ABC15. The fire erupted near 29th Avenue and Van Buren Street on Thursday morning, and the girl, who was rescued by bystanders, is now in stable condition according to the Phoenix Fire Department.
Three people have been left without a home due to the fire damage. The Phoenix Fire responded quickly, containing the blaze to prevent it from spreading to adjacent properties, and their fast action helped avert further disaster, the fierce blaze threatened only one residence ultimately.
Additional details were provided by Arizona's Family, where Rosario Ayala, a resident who lived with the family, recounted the events leading up to the fire. Ayala stated that she turned on the stove to cook and stepped out briefly, only to return to a calamitous scene of flames engulfing the home.
"I ran outside screaming for help. I was screaming, 'Someone help me'," Ayala recounted in a statement obtained by Arizona's Family. Ayala and a tire shop worker, Juan David Solano, raced against the smoke and flames to drag the unconscious girl to safety. Solano recalled having to assist the girl to breathe, as her jaw was clenched shut, “Little by little bit, she came back,” he said.
Their collective efforts were instrumental in saving the girl's life on a day that is traditionally spent in gratitude and family unity. Despite the loss of their home and belongings, Ayala expressed a heartfelt sense of thankfulness, "I thank God for my life, and the little girl’s," she told Arizona's Family. The cause of the fire remains unclear as investigations continue.
For those looking to support the affected family in their time of need, a GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with the girl's medical bills, clothing, food, and securing a new home. Community members can offer their help by contributing to the fundraising efforts.
