Dallas family’s home destroyed in deadly arson fire
DALLAS - A North Texas family is struggling to rebuild after a deadly arson fire destroyed all of their belongings earlier this month.
A woman is facing arson charges after police said she admitted to starting that fire, which killed one man and destroyed several neighboring mobile homes in Northwest Dallas.
The Moreno family is grateful to be alive.
The entire family, including six children aged 2 to 16, spoke to FOX 4 on Sunday.
For almost six years the family has lived in the mobile home park on Lombardy Lane, until a fire reduced it to rubble.
"It is hard because we lost everything you know," said 16-year-old Jonathan Moreno.
Dallas Fire-Rescue said 38-year-old Mirsa Lopez was responsible for the fire at their mobile home park on Lombardy Lane on the morning of Oct. 12.
Moreno says he remembers his dad waking everyone up around 6:30 in the morning because of the flames.
Dallas woman allegedly starts fire after being denied entry to use the bathroom, killing man and three dogs
A woman has been charged with arson after setting fire to a mobile home in Northwest Dallas, killing a man and three dogs, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
He rushed to get out, and then remembered his 2-year-old sister, so he ran back inside and grabbed her.
All eight family members escaped the flames, but the family's 2-year-old pitbull did not.
The fire spread quickly to four mobile homes and multiple vehicles.
One person died, and several dogs were killed in the fire.
Investigators said Lopez confessed to starting the blaze behind one mobile home after she knocked on the door to use the restroom, but the homeowner refused to let her in.
Lopez was arrested and charged with arson.
Marisa Lopez (Dallas PD)
She remains in jail while she waits for her first court hearing.
Meanwhile, the Morenos are staying with other family members as they work to rebuild.
The family lost everything.
Thomas Jefferson HIgh School is pitching in to help the family. The alumni association has gathered donation items like food, blankets and clothing.
It was emotional for the Moreno family to return to the place they called home for almost five years to find nothing but charred remnants.
"It’s hard to find another place quickly because all the properties are expensive. But I need to find something as soon as possible," Apolinar Moreno said.
The loss is great, the family is staying focused on what they still have: each other.