Lincoln family picking up the pieces after fire

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — After a house fire upended her life, a single mother is working to rebuild.

“This has been one of the hardest things we’ve had to deal with as a family, especially for the kids with autism,” Katrina Sanchez said.  “Its’ been a struggle.” 

About a month ago, fire crews responded to a fire at her house near 38th and O streets. 

Lincoln Fire & Rescue said her children had accidentally started a fire in the basement. 

“As soon as I got here, all I just had seen was smoke coming out of the house, and I just dropped,” Sanchez said. “My heart dropped.”

LFR estimated that there was $75,000 in damage to the house and to its contents.

The home was also deemed unlivable, so Sanchez and her five kids, three of whom have autism, have been relocated.

She did not have renters insurance, so she’s working extra to compensate for the losses. 

“I’ve been working doubles and triples at my job because of the expense of moving,” she said.

There is a GoFundMe page to help Sanchez and her children with expenses.

She said the changes haven’t been easy on her kids. 

“The house was accommodating to them, and so it was really hard losing that,” Sanchez said. “And transitioning autistic children to a new space, or anything, is really difficult,” she said.