Family Loses Everything, 4 Kittens Saved in Devastating Commerce City House Fire

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (KDVR) — A family of four is trying to rebuild their lives after losing everything in a fire that destroyed their Commerce City home.

Investigators are investigating the cause of the fire that saved four baby kittens.

“It was really difficult,” Elizabeth Acker said. “It’s just heartbreaking.”

A piece of warning tape still hangs from what remains of Acker's house on 81st Avenue. She said it was a constant reminder of what happened Friday, as she watched flames and smoke consume the place she has called home for 30 years.

“We’ve been through everything with this house,” Acker said. “Grandchildren, bankruptcy, trying to take care of the children. It's a tearing apart of all the memories and it's all heartbreaking.

Acker remembers the times she noticed the flames.

“I was yelling at everyone to get out. The fire was in the front room where no one was and it was coming up from the floor onto all the furniture,” she said. “I didn’t have my phone. I had to go back and get my phone so I could call 911. I barely made it out of there. My hair was all burned. My skin was rough.

It only took five minutes for Acker's family to be left with just the clothes on their backs.

“Besides that, the firefighters took out a box containing everyone's documents, such as birth certificates. So I was able to keep these documents. I don’t even have a change of clothes, all we have is what we had, we had shoes, the neighbors had to bring us shoes,” Acker said. “We are two disabled elderly people and we take care of my disabled daughter and her two children. My disabled daughter died in April. Her 12-year-old son is autistic. So we are doubly heartbroken here.

Firefighters were able to locate and rescue four baby kittens outside the home. . Adams County Animal Control took the kittens.

Fortunately, everyone escaped the fire without any injuries.

Acker said, “We are very, very grateful for that.”

While grateful, the family is now seeking support and advice.

“I feel bad for the kids. They’re the ones who really need help the most,” Acker said. “If it was just me, I wouldn’t care. It's the kids, they're no use getting through this. They lost their mother, they lost everything.

The American Red Cross put the family up in a hotel for the weekend, but on Monday morning they will have to find new living conditions. The family organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help recover from the losses.