Peace Officer

Single Mother Loses Everything in Apartment Fire

A single mother was left with next to nothing after a fire tore through her apartment in Bonita.

Melissa Medina's family member was arrested after witnesses told police they saw him start the fire at her home on Tuesday.

That’s a day Medina won't be forgetting anytime soon.

"I felt like I wanted to faint when I saw what happened," Medina said. "It's completely overwhelming. I look at it and think 'Everything I own is gone,'" said Medina.

Thankfully, she was at work and her daughter was at school when the fire started.

Firefighters were able to save one very important item: a photo album filled with pictures of Medina and her daughter.

Detectives with the Chula Vista Police Department told NBC 7 Medina's family member, Yadim Carranza, 34, was arrested at the scene and charged with arson and resisting a peace officer. 

A GoFundMe page was started to help Medina and her daughter get back on their feet.

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