PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A Phoenix family is entering the new year with a sense of loss and gratitude after a fire ripped through their home on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
The flames damaged a large part of the home, near 20th Street and Osborn Road<\/a>, making it unlivable, though it was not a total loss. The family of three and three dogs all made it out safely.<\/p>\n The homeowner says she\u2019s dedicated her life to serving her community, so it\u2019s a different feeling when she\u2019s now the one who needs help.<\/p>\n A pile of rubble sits in the backyard of the home. Stephanie Santiago was in tears seeing her belongings torched and scattered across the yard, but she was also overwhelmed by support.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always me showing up for people who need it and I love it fills my cup but I never thought that I would need it. The people who have show up for me my work team I can\u2019t even explain it,\u201d Santiago said, breaking down in tears.<\/p>\n Santiago volunteers for the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy job is to find vulnerable people get them tested work on their health care and make them better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She also works with a community group mentoring kids.<\/p>\n \u201cSpecifically at-risk kids because I was once an at-risk kid,\u201d Santiago said.<\/p>\n It has been less than a year since Santiago moved into the home with her wife, their two kids and three dogs. On Christmas Eve morning, their lives were flipped upside down.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were cooking some dishes to take with us to my family, and we heard the fire alarms thankfully that happened right away. Then we immediately saw smoke,\u201d Santiago said.<\/p>\n Trying not to panic, Santiago rushed through the home, searching for the source.<\/p>\n \u201cLike in a literal movie the whole closet was in flames,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In that moment, she had to make quick decisions. One of those choices saved the rest of her home from becoming a total loss.<\/p>\n \u201cI ran out with the kids and the dogs I just punched the hole with the hose and tried to put out as much as I could. The fire chief said did you shut those doors to the bedroom? And I\u2019m like I don\u2019t even remember, he said well you saved the entire house by closing those two doors,\u201d Santiago said.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll soon be a new year, and Santiago has new optimism.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of good come out of this unfortunate situation in a really good way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Phoenix Fire Department investigators are still working to figure out what caused the fire. But Santiago said they cannot return to the home for at least another two months. <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to help, a GoFundMe has been set up<\/a> for the family.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n