An Arlington family has lost everything after a fire ravaged their home early Sunday morning, sending all three occupants to the hospital.
The blaze occurred on Lomita Lane around 5 a.m. The family, despite their significant losses, expressed relief at having escaped with their lives.
Brayan Velarde knew something was terribly wrong when he was awakened by his wife. “My eyes were burning,” Velarde recalled. His son alerted them to the heavy smoke filling the house.
The fire quickly consumed the home, leaving Velarde in shock and unsure of how to react. He, his wife, and their 8-year-old son fled outside with only the clothes they were wearing and called 911.
All three suffered from prolonged exposure to the toxic smoke and chemicals from the fire and were hospitalized. Velarde described spitting out blackened debris from the smoke.
Upon their release from the hospital, they discovered their home was destroyed, with the kitchen reduced to ruins. Velarde suspects the fire may have been caused by an electrical problem.
The family’s young son is still dealing with health issues from the fire and is struggling to comprehend their situation. “He’s asking us what we’re going to do, where we’re going to go, and what about our clothes and everything,” Velarde said. “He keeps asking if we can go home, and we can’t.”
Without insurance, the family faces tens of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs and is uncertain about where they will sleep or obtain new clothes. Velarde hopes for assistance as they face the challenge of finding a place to live. “We’re just hoping for help and trying to figure out what to do next,” he said. “We won’t be able to live here for a while.”
