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In Espanola, the fire department is consoling one of its own after a firefighter returned to her home to find it burned to the ground.
Firefighter Theresa Martinez is starting over after being unable to salvage anything from her burned-out home.
Espanola fire chief John Kitchen walked through the remains of what used to be the home with Martinez.
The fire got so hot it even melted the back of the motorcycle that was parked the whole time.
For the past eight years, Martinez has worked to protect the residents of Espanola.
She's the only woman in the department.
"Last month was my four-year-old's birthday and she always wanted a four-wheeler so we bought her a plastic four-wheeler and that's what's left of it," Martinez said walking through the debris.
Now she is a victim.
"This big hunk of metal used to be a really nice washer at one time," she said. "And the steps that used to get into the home."
She returned from a short family trip to find everything she and her family owned destroyed by fire.
It wasn't the first time fire had taken away her precious memories.
"Another home of mine actually burned down ten years ago," she said. "And I felt that had I known more I would have been able to save it or do something different."
"There is nothing you can do besides start over and pray that it never happens again," she said.
If you'd like to help Martinez rebuild, you can stop by any Bank of America to make a donation.
Just ask for the Theresa Martinez account.
You can also contact the city for more information at 747-6100.
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