ENUMCLAW, Wash. -- Equine veterinarian Bob Deward walks through what was once his living room.
"The ceiling and the rest of the house are now gone," he says, as she shows us a tarp covering the roof.
Deward's house, furniture and just about every possession was destroyed in Wednesday's fire. Authorities say it was caused by an electrical short. Deward and his wife were enjoying a night out in Seattle when they got the call.
"I think the toughest thing ultimately was that we were not here," Deward says as he fights back tears.
While the home was quickly engulfed in flames, the Dewards' animals, two dogs and two cats, were trapped. A neighbor told firefighters about the pets, and they were able to get them out, but not without injuries.
"They were having a hard time breathing, they smelled like smoke and the first thing that she (Matty the dog) did when she saw us was wag her tail. That's the kind of dog that she is."
The others, Myles and Santana the cats and Jenny the dog, all suffered severe smoke inhalation. They are all on oxygen at a neighboring vet hospital.
Even though they've lost their home, the Dewards are grateful. A neighbor, who had a spare set of keys to their mobile vet unit, moved it before it could catch fire. Another neighbor who is also a vet was able to treat the animals shortly after they were rescued.
"I cannot thank enough all of the people that have been supportive of us," says Julie Soushek, Deward's wife. Soushek says in the end, the house and the material items are replaceable.
The Dewards were just married in September. Amidst the massive damage to their living room, their wedding photo, which hung on the wall, was saved.
Neighbors in Enumclaw have set up a benevolent fund through Bank of America under the name: Dr. Bob Deward Fire Assistance Fund. Anyone can make donations at any of the Bank of America locations.
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