ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A family from St. Pete is rebuilding after losing their home to a fire over the weekend.
Multiple firefighters responded to couple James Balch and Carly Rush's home Sunday afternoon after their house of nearly a decade on the 5700 block of 66th Way North caught fire.
"You can't describe that feeling," Rush said, "You don't think that's going to happen to you."
No one was hurt but the family's belongings, including their 10-year-old daughter Giavanna's, are essentially lost.
10 Tampa Bay spoke with the couple just more than 24 hours after the fire burned down their home.
For Balch, the fire cut deep on a personal note.
He started his own landscaping company and finally devoted work full-time with it two months ago but the fire destroyed all his equipment.
"I've been building this thing up for a little while little by little," Balch said. "That was very heartbreaking to me."
Rush was the only person home at the time of the fire. She was in the shower when she heard her three dogs barking, she said.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, she could smell the smoke and saw it engulfing the living room, she said.
Had she stayed minutes longer, Rush said she could've lost her life if it wasn't for their dogs Buddy, Bandit and Boss.
"They saved her life. There's no doubt about it in my mind," Balch said.
There were also "crackling" noises coming from the front porch, Rush recalled, which the couple said may have stemmed from the gas-powered landscaping equipment being damaged.
Despite the loss, the family said they've been able to find hope the last day through the amount of support they've received from family, friends, and even strangers.
"That's what makes me emotional is the help," Rush said.
While the two aren't sure how they'll rebuild or how they'll manage to find a new home within their budget, Rush said there's relief knowing they have support navigating the challenges.
"We have a lot more hope than we did yesterday already," Balch said.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, Pinellas Park Fire Department and Lealman Fire District responded to the fire.
It appears a nearby property also sustained damages from the fire. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
If you'd like to help the family rebuild, visit this link.