Eleven firefighters were injured fighting a fire in Charles County, Maryland, Friday afternoon.
Marsha Karim said she went to a store about 4:30 p.m. and returned to her home in the 10000 block of Chamberlain Court in Waldorf on fire.
"I said, 'Oh my God! It's my house! It's my house!" she said.
The roof collapsed, and the house was evacuated.
Charles County Volunteer Fire and EMS reported the firefighters were taken to the hospital for with minor injuries, mostly burns.
"I’m devastated and thankful my grandchildren and daughter are OK and we weren’t there," Karim said.
She worried about her two cats. One got out; the other was missing.
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"Everything I’ve worked all my life for was in there, and my cats," she said.
When firefighters went back in, they found the other cat.
Karim said she's relieved the injured firefighters are OK.
"I am so thankful that the firefighters made it and none of my neighbors' houses got burned," Karim said.
She lived in the house for 12 years. She said she will stay with her adult children.
Visibility issues on nearby Berry Road were reported due to smoke.
The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department assisted in fighting the fire. Its cause is under investigation.
