‘Its hurtful’: Lorain family loses everything in suspected arson fire [Video]

LORAIN, Ohio — A Lorain family is starting over after a weekend fire destroyed their home and nearly all their belongings. Investigators suspect the fire, which started at a house next door, was set intentionally.

“I’m just grateful we got out of there alive,” Jessica Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez and her children are temporarily staying with her mother while they figure out their next steps. She explained the family had been enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon when a neighbor knocked on their door to inform them of smoke coming from the house.

“It was like a mommy instinct – just run upstairs, grab your children and get out as fast as you can. And that’s what I did,” Gonzalez recalled. “And I thank God because the rooms upstairs were the first ones to get torched.”