House Fire Leaves Family of Six Homeless

A family of six is left homeless after fire destroyed their house. The quick moving fire ripped through the house on Rockford Road around noon Thursday.

Syrilda Welch was at work when she got the call Thursday afternoon about her house. "That the house was on fire and it's gone," Syrilda said. Syrilda rushed home to find it in flames.Her family of 6 lives at the home, including her elderly father, long-time boyfriend, two children and an infant.

Investigators are looking into what started the fire. The family tells Action News it's possible someone was at the house while they weren't home and could be responsible.

Crews were quick to the scene but say it was too late to save the structure. "It appears that fire had gotten it's start and moved rather quickly before it was noticed," said Michael Riel, East Valley Fire Acting Chief.

Leonard Kimbel is Syrilda's boyfriend. He says the fire comes during a rough time for the family. "We moved in here a year ago to help her mom that was dying and now we're here to take care of her dad," Leonard said. Family and friends quickly showed up to the comfort the family. The family tells Action News they'll have to the face the reality of losing everything.

"I don't believe there's any insurance, I'm hoping we can figure out how we're gonna do it. Ya know, we'll struggle. Both of us work hard and we'll keep going from there," Leonard said. "It's just devastation I guess. Starting over," Syrilda said. A family grateful to be alive, but forced to start over with next to nothing.