Single mom of four struggling after fire in Portsmouth apartment complex

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A Portsmouth woman and her four daughters are struggling to recover after a fire broke out Saturday night in their neighbor's apartment on Deep Creek Boulevard and Lincoln Street, making theirs unlivable.

Duplex fire in Portsmouth displaces several residents

The mother told 10 On Your Side that, even with assistance from the Red Cross, it's difficult to bounce back.

Rene Jones was recording her daughters having fun and dancing Saturday night. Twenty minutes later, their lives would be turned upside down.

"Sounded like it was literally an explosion," Jones said. "It made me feel like a car hit — it shook the entire apartment, the whole building."

In a panic and concerned for her family's safety, she ran downstairs.

"I ran downstairs, I seen that the apartment was engulfed in black smoke," Jones said. "I know that they have a gas stove, so I was screaming just for everyone to get out as fast as possible."

Portsmouth Fire said one of the units in the building caught fire around 10:20 p.m. Crews conducted an aggressive interior attack and brought the fire under control around 1 a.m.

For more than two hours, Jones watched her memories be destroyed.

"So I'm like, 'Oh my God, my dad's pictures — [he] passed away when I was a child — everything is going up in flames."

That included presents already bought for Christmas. Amazingly, no one was hurt. Jones heard the cause was electrical. The Red Cross was able to give her some money, but that's all been spent on air mattresses and clothing for her girls.

"Get them, at least trying to get them, mentally stable so that they can be able to go to school and still feel like everything is somewhat OK," Jones said.

They have no income — Jones quit her job to go to school, training as a dealer to work at Rivers Casino.

"Today was supposed to be my audition, but now I have to stop doing that."

Not sure how long this state of limbo will last, she hopes things will turn a corner soon.

"When you're at the bottom, you have nowhere to go but up," Jones said. "So I guess, just like, start over."

If you'd like to help Rene Jones and her daughters, you can visit their GoFundMe page .