KRGV.com

COMBES - The Cameron County fire marshal dug through the rubble to find out what caused a blaze that cost one family in Combes everything.

The fire started in a bedroom. The fire marshal says he is still trying to figure out exactly how it started. A woman and two children were inside when the fire started but were able to get out in time.

Fire trucks lined the streets. Firefighters converged on the small yellow one-story home. Most of the damage was visible only from inside. The fire marshal says the house is a loss. Maria Valdez was inside when the fire started.

"Basically, when I opened the door and I went to the room, I saw the flames. First thing I did was come back to the room and get my kids, and I'm thankful there was a back door because the whole hallway was already in smoke," says Valdez.

Valdez had little time to react. She saved her 1- and 3-year-old. She was watching from a distance when the reality of the loss began to set in.

"We barely moved here about three weeks ago. We didn't have much left and we started doing little by little things and know we have to start all over."

She wonders where home will be next.

"We need to find somewhere to go first of all. In total, I have six kids, so it's going to be pretty hard, but I have my family, my brother and my mom. They help me out a lot," says Valdez.

Waiting and watching firefighters put out hot spots was hard. She wants a chance to see what she can salvage. This mother knows she's already saved her most precious possessions.

Cameron County Fire Marshal Omar Lucio says it could take several days before they know how the fire started.