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Musician in Hot Springs loses everything in morning house fire

A Hot Springs musician and her family have been left with nothing after a fire destroyed their home earlier this week.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — A Hot Springs woman and her family have been left to pick up the pieces of their lives after a fire destroyed their home.

"I don't even know how to walk through this," Sarah Rodriguez, who was home when the fire started, said.

It's hard to tell what rooms are what— ash and soot are about all that's left.

According to Lake Hamilton Fire Chief Doug Davey, they got the call at around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday. They, along with crews from Morning Star, responded to the fire.

The flames were so intense, that some neighbors' homes were damaged as well. In total, Davey said it took them about an hour to put the fire out.

For Rodriguez, time is important. 

If she hadn't woken up when she did, she said that we could've been having a different conversation.

"I may not be here to talk about it," she said. "I would definitely be planning funeral arrangements for my 16-year-old daughter."

Luckily, no one was hurt, but there wasn't much left after the fire. From her car to her career— damage can be seen everywhere.

"17 or 18 items that I could go to the music store and purchase right now that have just been burned," Rodriguez said. "Just burnt up."

Rodriguez is better known as 'Sarah Bear,' and she typically performs in Hot Springs. She also teaches music, but that's been put on hold.

Though, it's not all losses. She found one of her instruments while we walked through her home with her.

Somehow, that guitar survived— and there's already help from other musicians to get her back on her feet.

"I have a gig on November 12th, and I have no instruments now for it," she said. "I don't have to worry about what I'm going to play or what I'm gonna sing or what I'm going to do, the support is so overwhelming."

A GoFundMe that was set up has already raised thousands for her and her family. 

All she can say is thank you.

"When I see that, reminds me that the world is still okay," she said. "It hasn't gone to total crap, people still care about other people."

For a link to the GoFundMe, please click here

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