Smoke and flames forced a family out of their West Side home early Tuesday morning.
Flames broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the 4900 block of Fortuna and heavy smoke filled the home.
Frank Ruiz woke up just in time to make it out. His mother, Sylvia, cried out after hearing a loud bang. She thought someone was trying to break into the house. Frank followed the sound of his mother's voice all the way to the door.
"At that point, all the smoke was too much. I couldn't find her in there. We barely got out. I mean, I was almost passed out," Frank Ruiz said. "The smoke was overwhelming. I couldn't see anything. It was just too dark in there to see anything. I could hear the fire and popping."
Crews put out the fire quickly, but flames also spread to a car that was parked behind the home.
"She ran in to get the van keys, because her van is parked back there, and I go, 'Let's just get out!'" Ruiz said.
Officials believe the fire likely started in the back of the house and may have been electrical.
The family contacted Red Cross for help and was searching for options for what to do next.
"We made our way out somehow. I'm just glad we made it out," Ruiz said.
Damage to the home was estimated at $38,000.
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