'I'm happy God gave me one more chance': Kent man shows grace, gratitude after devastating fire

KENT, Wash. — Neighbors who saw the raging fire consuming Alex Lima's Kent mobile home early Saturday morning say it spread so explosively, they wondered if Lima, who lived alone, had a chance to escape.

"God saved my life," Lima said. "I got one more chance for a beginning, to start over again."

The fire in the 1500 block of Maple Lane engulfed much of the structure while Lima slept.

"My neighbor, she screamed 'Alex, wake up!' But I didn't hear it," Lima said. "She broke the windows, I heard that, I woke and there's smoke and fire but I ran out."

"I took my hand, and broke the window," said Lima's next door neighbor Miriam Hernandez, a grandmother who was home recovering from stomach surgery. “She’s a hero,” he said.

As Lima escaped the flames, the fire destroyed everything he owned, including two cars, his clothes and his savings. Kent firefighters defended neighboring homes from burning.

Despite the total loss, Alex told KIRO 7 he's thrilled to be alive. He pointed out two fully loaded propane tanks which swelled in the intense heat, but did not explode. The only item Alex found partially intact was the charred bible he says he had in bed with him after reading himself to sleep.

Lima, who came to Washington State from Brazil 19 years ago, says he was laid off from his job at a propane processing plant on Wednesday. Now, he’s working alone to dig out the charred ruins, to clean the lot where his home stood.

Lima says he believes he is being called to react to this complete loss with relief and hope.

"I'm happy," he said. "God gave to me one more chance in life. Everything else is coming again. God give me power and health to start again, brother."

"He’s happy he has another opportunity to live," said Hernandez.

There is a GoFundMe account established for Lima, who did not have renter's insurance.

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