Family escapes early-morning house fire in Phoenix

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Nova the cat was found wondering in the alley hours after her owner's home became engulfed in flames.

"We've had her basically since she was born and she's just a special cat, she loves everyone," Tyler Herr said.

Sixteen-year-old Tyler Herr says the family had six cats and two rabbits. His parents were frantically trying to rescue them all once they made sure Tyler and his sister were safe.

"We had a cat and rabbit die in there," Tyler said.

Moments later came more bad news as two more cats were found inside.

Phoenix firefighters were called out to the home near Interstate 17 and Cactus at around 2 a.m. The carport was heavily engulfed and the flames quickly spread to the roof.

Tyler says his dad was sleeping on the couch, heard the pops, and then woke everyone else up.

"It was one of those moments that felt like a dream," he said. "You didn't want it to be real and then you wake up, you realize you're there, you're like this just happened. This thing that I never though would happen to me just happened."

Adding to the nightmare, autographed jerseys and photos all from their favorite basketball team are all gone.

"It's all Phoenix Suns memorabilia," Tyler's grandmother said. "It was really hard to even think about that this had happened."

The family is grateful they made it out and that some of their pets were saved, but they say getting over the ones they lost won't be easy.