Lifelong Oak Harbor resident Donna Moore was devastated when she arrived at work Friday to learn her home was destroyed by fire.

Moore, 54, was also told that her beloved dogs had died.

Moore’s daughter and grandson, 5, were living with her. They escaped uninjured.

It was Moore’s grandson who alerted her daughter to the fire after trying to put it out with the hose.

Moore’s daughter said the fire spread so rapidly that they couldn’t get to the front door. Though they made it out through the back door uninjured, a draft pulled the door closed behind them, trapping inside two dogs, a doberman pincer and American bully.

Both animals died from smoke inhalation. The family cat managed to escape.

“I spend a lot of time at home alone and they were my life and my buddies,” Moore said.

JESS BALLOS, a longtime friend of Moore’s, arrived at the house just as the fire was being extinguished and called Moore, who had just reported to her job in Port Townsend.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue Station 25 Battalion Chief Chris Swiger said firefighters responded to the blaze at about 9:30 a.m. Twenty firefighters fought the fire.

Swiger said the house burned quickly. Cause of the fire is undetermined.

“Every house fire is a tragedy no matter what because those people, live’s are gone,” said Swiger. “They have to figure out how to pick up and move on and how to start over.”

MOORE SAID she only was able to salvage a couple of photo albums, though there still may be items in the rubble to be recovered.

Moore said she is too devastated and heartbroken to comb though the debris.

“The smell just makes me sick to my stomach.”

Moore said she did not have renter’s insurance because, following a home burglary, the policy was cancelled by her provider.

Because they had only the clothes on their backs, Ballos started a GoFundMe page for Moore, her daughter and grandson.

“Were trying to do everything we can to help them.” said Ballos. “It’s going to be really tough.”

ASIDE FROM from losing her two dogs, Moore said her most immediate challenge is finding an affordable housing.

Moore said she paid $600 a month in rent until her landlord died, leaving the house to his son. The rent rose to $950 per month.

Born and raised in Oak Harbor, Moore said she wants to remain in the area.

The rental market is competitive, and there are waiting lists for rental properties that Moore said she may not even qualify for.

That, and many landlords do not allow pets, and giving up her cat is not an option for Moore, who also wants to get a new pet as soon as she’s settled again.

DESPITE THE difficulty finding housing, and even though a friend who works in real estate told her it may be impossible to find another home in her price range, Moore said she remains hopeful.

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming, she said.

“I really don’t need anything except continued support,” said Moore. “People have helped me more than I ever thought.”

Moore said that she wanted to thank everyone by name who has helped, but doesn’t want to leave someone out.

• A donation to help the family can be made at www.gofundme.com/donna-moore-fund-house-burned-down