Mesa condo fire leaves pregnant woman burned, 20 residents displaced

MESA, Ariz. - A resident was burned and more than a dozen people were forced out of their home after a Mesa condo complex went up in flames overnight.

The fire broke out near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road on Wednesday morning at about 1:15 a.m., and officials say a total of four units were involved.

Three of the four units were occupied. Twenty people were displaced, including four children. Firefighters say they were able to identify family members and neighbors who helped the displaced residents.

A woman suffered burn injuries and is in the hospital in stable condition.

"She was trying to get her dogs out…she got her hands burnt…all that smoke inhalation," said one witness. "She was in panic mode."

Firefighters were able to get the flames under control, and the cause is under investigation.

‘I ended up having to crawl on the ground’

"I’m 33-years-old, and I’ve lost everything I’ve ever owned, so it’s kind of hard to deal with. I lost my dog, I don’t have a place to go, and I don’t even know what I’m going to do at this point," says Ronald Hartman, who is, of course, still in shock after waking up to the fire.

He described the chaotic scene saying fire was shooting up the wall. He and his pregnant wife Tabitha grabbed their two kids and ran out of the home.

Their two dogs were still inside.

"So then I went back in for my dogs. One of my dogs was in a kennel. The smoke was so bad that I couldn’t see. I ended up having to crawl on the ground with my face covered to unlock his kennel. He got out, but then my other dog, I was unable to get her. That’s how my wife got burnt, was trying to go back in and get her out but just couldn’t," he said.

Their German Shepard Zuko survived with minor burn marks to his back, but sadly their Jack Russell Terrier named Zero did not make it.

"She was my little sweetheart. My little princess. We got her at the same time my daughter was born, so they grew up together. It’s been really hard on her because she keeps asking about if they found her yet I just don’t have the heart to tell her," Hartman said.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the victims.

Map of the area: