A single mom with her two children are displaced from their Davie home on SW 67th Terrace after an early morning fire started in the kitchen.
“I saw smoke!” Said Catalina Cristo.
8-year-old Catalina Cristo was the first one in the home to spot the fire igniting.
“And I was with my brother, looking for my mom. And I said wake up Mom, there’s a fire!” Said Catalina.
Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.
Mom, Melissa Cristo, is a teacher assistant for children with special needs. Cristo’s 6-year-old son also has autism.
“My daughter saved our life. She was a hero.” Says Cristo. “I was sleeping and didn’t realize what was happening. I just smelled the smoke.”
Upon seeing the smoke, all three ran down the stairs, escaping the flames.
Local
The home is about half a mile from Nova Southeastern University.
American Red Cross volunteers from the Disaster Action Team helped coordinate emergency aid like financial assistance and mental health services for the three survivors.
Davie Fire confirmed the fire was mostly in the kitchen, and authorities were able to contain the fire quickly to keep it from spreading in the housing complex. They added that all residents were evacuated from the affected area.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Cristo says she does not know how the fire could have started and is devastated she won’t be able to stay the night in her uninhabitable home.
Davie Fire Rescue says no one reported any injuries to their personnel. Melissa added the family did go to a local hospital after -- to be treated for some breathing difficulties.
Cristo tells us her damaged items included vases and textiles -- that she had bought to create merchandise for extra income.
She added that she is unsure whether the landlord will help fix the home, but says her family is planning on moving to a new place permanently.
Although she says her life has been made more difficult now, she’s happy the three of them are together.
“Here we are the three of us, we don’t have anyone.” said Cristo.
Donations can be made to this GoFundMe. https://www.gofundme.com/f/Please-donate-to-help-after-home-fire
