Brand new smoke alarms save family from fire in north Houston
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman's home renovations in hopes of adopting a child not only saved her life, but the lives of her mom, several dogs and one cat.
When firefighters arrived to the home on Tarberry Road near Old Ledge Lane just before 12:30 this morning, they found heavy black smoke pouring from the front of the home.
RAW VIDEO: House fire in north Houston
Candyss Roberson is a Spring ISD police officer and veteran who served in Afghanistan for two years. She said she was in the process of adopting a 12-year-old girl from the school district when installed the fire alarms just two days ago as part of the application process for adoption consideration.
"I'm in the process of trying to adopt a little girl, and we had fire alarms," Roberson said. "Only by God's grace did those fire alarms wake us up."
Roberson said when they ran out of the home, they found neighbors standing in their front yard.
The woman's dog, who stays by her side, ran out beside her. Her mother was able to grab her German Shepherd and escaped injury, as well.
But both women soon realized that three of their beloved pets were still trapped inside the burning home.
Roberson told Eyewitness News she ran back into the smoke-filled home, and managed to find a pet Chihuahua. She thought both her cats had died, but firefighters later found one alive in the attic.
Sadly, one of the cats did die. Firefighters buried the cat and because they said they didn't want Roberson to have to deal with more heartache.
"We're trying to salvage what we can, and go from here," Roberson said. "The fact that I have to break this news to a 12-year-old little girl is really the part that bothers me."
Crews said a fire broke out in the back of the house, but the cause is still under investigation.
Visit the GoFundMe page if you would like to help the family.
