SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A young couple and their two children are trying to get back on their feet after a fire destroyed their home and belongings Tuesday night.
The fire broke out just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. The couple and their 1- and 2-year-old were inside.
“Our daughter, he had just put our daughter down for bed. I was laying in our room with our son watching YouTube videos,” Kayla Salka recalled.
That’s when she noticed the lights flickering and heard popping and banging.
“And then I heard him scream, ‘What do you mean?’ And then more, the light flickered more, popping and banging. So, I got out of bed and ran, and we met each other in the hallway, and he just said, ‘The garage is on fire,’” Salka said.
Salka said she opened the side door and saw a wall of flames.
Her husband, Kyle, grabbed a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too big. They grabbed their kids and got their dogs out of the front door.
The fire spread from the garage, across the breezeway, and into the home’s attic.
The couple lost everything, including their camper.
“We wanted to save it to have somewhere to live, but it just wasn’t capable, so we lost that home and the garage,” Kyle Salka said. “I mean, everything that was inside there, just tools and toys. Like all of our kids’ toys. Power Wheels and just personal stuff.”
The couple owns NextGen Customs, a car repair shop on their property. They said an employee working late ended up being their hero.
“Jake really saved our lives because if it wasn’t for him ...” Kyla Salka said.
“... It would have taken quite a few more minutes for us to realize there was something going on,” Kyle Salka added.
They’re working with a nonprofit called Fireproof, which launched a GoFundMe for the family.
“Especially with the holidays like coming up and everything, so just like anything we can help them to do, or go out to eat, everything like that helps, too,” Kyla Salka said.
The Salkas are currently staying at a friend’s home. If you would like to help, click here.
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