HOUSTON – A woman died in an apartment fire Thursday while trying to save her cat in southeast Houston.
The fire took place on Fairway Drive at Telephone on Wednesday night.
Fire officials said when they showed up, flames were coming out of the second floor of the two-story apartment building.
They were then told about possible victims trapped inside. Firefighters were able to get two adults and two children out safely.
When they were able to enter the building, they located the body of a woman. Officials said her name was Kayla Salinas, a wife and mother of two young boys.
Kayla’s husband, children and uncle were able to escape the fire.
“I just can’t believe it happened so fast,” Kayla’s husband, Andrew Salinas, told KPRC 2 reporter T.J. Parker. “I was going back in… burning my skin.”
“I thought I was the last one… it’s the hardest thing,” the victim’s brother-in-law, Richard Salinas, said.
Richard, who also lives at the apartments, said he was asleep when the fire broke out. He said Kayla was outside with her kids before running back in to save her pet.
A neighbor reportedly did everything he could to alarm people by knocking on doors and using his own extinguisher, but the fire was too intense to contain.
Andrew said he was able to save one photo of his wife.
Firefighters said four units were destroyed in the fire. They are investigating to determine what started it.