Keila Almonte: Texas mother-of-2 dies while trying to save her family's cat from a burning apartment

HOUSTON, TEXAS: A Texas woman lost her life on Wednesday, December 13, after she ran back into a burning apartment in a desperate attempt to save her family cat. The Houston Fire Department responded to a call about a fire at the Southway Manor Apartments on Fairway Drive just before 10.30 pm local time, the agency said in a release.

When firefighters arrived at the scene just minutes later, they were met with "heavy smoke and heavy fire."

What did the fire department say?

"Crews on scene executed a transitional attack, containing the fire externally before launching an assertive interior operation," the department said. "Following successful fire control, search and rescue operations commenced, revealing the unfortunate discovery of one deceased female," the department added.

According to ABC affiliate KTRK, the fire began in Andrew Salinas' apartment as he and his family were asleep. He evacuated along with his brother, wife, and their two young sons, per KTRK and CBS affiliate KHOU. However, his wife, Keila Almonte, 33, ran back inside to try and save their cat. 

After she decided to go back inside the inferno, Salinas told KTRK he was "screaming for her" but "didn't hear anything." "When I was out here screaming for her, I didn't hear anything. If I would've heard my wife, I would've ran in there. There would have been nothing that could have stopped me from going in to save my wife," Salinas said.

"You have your loved ones. You give them a kiss everyday, and you tell them you love them, because one day they're here. The next day, they're not," he added.

Four units were destroyed due to the fire

The Houston Fire Department said four units were destroyed by the blaze, which is under investigation. A GoFundMe fundraiser was launched to help with the family's funeral expenses. More than $3500 has been raised as of Friday night, December 15.

KTRK reported that Salinas now has the heartbreaking task of telling his sons what happened to their mother. He described Almonte as the backbone of their family, someone who pulled him out of the darkest times and helped him turn his life around. He said they had been together for 15 years, married for two, and share children, who are aged six and 10 years old.

"Everything burned down and I don't really care about none of that," he told KHOU, adding "I just want my wife back."