A mobile home on Northside Drive was destroyed by a fire caused by an air conditioner located in the kitchen area on Wednesday, July 19.
Neighbors sprayed water through a window in Alisha and Robert Juza’s home with a garden hose before Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District personnel arrived at 1:23 p.m.
SHFAD was on the scene for about 20 minutes.
The neighbors’ actions probably helped keep the fire from spreading, said SHFAD Chief Dave Barringer.
“If they weren’t there, there would be nothing left,” Alisha Juza said. “It’s totaled. The fire alarm above the girls’ bed melted.”
The couple and their two children were not home at the time, but their dog Ludo and cat Simon both died in the fire.
The Juzas were able to salvage some family photos from their fire- and water-damaged belongings, but their mobile home is not inhabitable.
“We’re blessed to be able to salvage some pictures,” Alisha Juza said.
She said they are staying with her in-laws.
The couple was not able to get insurance on the mobile home because of the year it was built, she said.
“So many people are collecting for us,” Juza said. “We got a bedroom set, housing stuff, and clothes for the girls, we’re working on getting some clothes for us.”
Their daughter Lucy is 5 years old and Josie will turn 4 years old in September.
Little Promises is holding a garage sale starting at 8 a.m. on July 29. Gently-used items may be donated for the sale at Little Promises, 28028 Pleasant Valley Rd., starting July 26. For more information, call (541) 367-4350.
Little Promises also has a jar in its office for monetary donations. A GoFundMe account for the family has been set up at gofundme.com/uyysze-juza-family-fire-relief-fund.