On March 31 at 11:30 am, my mom came home to everyone's worst nightmare. Her house was on fire. She was gone for 20 minutes to pick up my daughter from preschool, and during that time, her house was engulfed in flames. A next-door neighbor saw a propane tank explode on the back porch and quickly jumped into action. They called 911 and broke into a window to try to get the dogs out. The Maplewood Fire Department responded within 1 minute and worked until they were able to successfully save all 4 dogs.

Luckily, no one was home at the time because the fire spread extremely quickly. Everyone and all of the dogs are safe, which is the most important thing. Unfortunately, the whole house is destroyed by the fire and water. My parents are the kindest and most giving people who are always willing to lend a hand. If you have anything extra to help at this moment, I know it would be more than appreciated.

We are so lucky to be surrounded by an amazing community. During the fire, neighbors came out with food, clothes, water, and support. The Maplewood Fire Department worked for hours, and the paramedics and police provided support for the firefighters once they came out. This is a devastating loss; my family lived there for 30 years, but we are trying to remember that it was just stuff and everyone is safe. We cannot thank everyone enough for the calls and texts.