The women suffered smoke inhalation from the fire, according to the family. Here’s what we know.
PHOENIX — Two Valley women remain hospitalized after narrowly escaping an apartment fire in Phoenix.
Family credits a Phoenix police officer for reportedly going inside the burning building to save their lives.
“I’m very grateful he was able to get my mom out, because I don’t know what would have happened without my mom being out of there,” David Miller said.
The mother and daughter lived in the home near I-17 and Indian School Road. They were asleep when the fire started last Wednesday morning.
Miller said it appears a lithium battery from an electric scooter may have started the fire.
“The battery started basically sparking and causing fire everywhere in the living room,” Miller said.
Miller said his mother and sister were trapped inside with their two dogs. A metal security door was keeping them from escaping.
“The officer had to kick the screen down or get through the screen to be able to get to my sister, and then from there the officer went in and was able to get my mom out,” Miller said.
The officer and the two women were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Miller said he hasn’t been able to speak with his mom or sister yet because they’re in medically induced comas.
“They did inhale a lot of toxic fumes, and that’s what a majority of this is,” Miller said.
Their two dogs, Spirit and Sox, died in the fire.
“She was the sweetest dog ever,” Miller said about Sox.
“As a little puppy dog, I held her. I was the first person to ever hold her,” He added about Spirit.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before they spread to nearby units.
Miller said the home is a total loss.
“Nothing in there is really salvageable,” Miller said. “Everything we own was inside, from family pictures to stuff that I had as a kid, even kitchen utensils I grew up eating on, they’re not there no more.”
A fundraiser was created to help the family pay for medical expenses and replace lost items.
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