My name is Debra, and I’m reaching out after a devastating house fire turned our lives upside down. In just one night, my family and our pets were left displaced, separated, and facing serious damage to the place we call home.

My 18-year-old son, Hayden, woke up to the fire staring in his bedroom. He immediately began yelling, which woke me and my husband. Because of him, we were able to get our grandsons our safely. Hayden didn't hesitate--he grabbed a fire extinguisher to slow the flames from climbing the wall, then ran through our neighbor's house to use their water hose to put out the fire shooting from his window. He even soaked the remaining wall and our neighbor's house to keep the fire from spreading. His quick thinking truly prevented the damage from being much worse.

The hardest part has been watching my son loose everything. His clothes, personal belongings, and the space that felt safe and familiar to him are all gone.