MILAN, Illinois - What you see at a fire can be just as frightening as what you hear.
A fire started at a mobile home at the Highcliff Estates in Milan around 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Donna Tompkins lives next door to the home and called 9-1-1.
"I was on the phone, and my picture window faces right out there, and I saw the flames. It was pretty much half already in flames," Tompkins said.
"We arrived on scene and it was engulfed front to back, completely engulfed. We got water on it as soon as possible," Black Hawk Fire Chief Jerry Mader said.
It wasn't just the smoke and flames that caught Tompkins attention.
"It started smoking really bad, it went to black smoke and then I heard it explode," Tompkins said.
Crews battled the smoke, the flames and pellets of snow to get the fire under control.
"Where they in there? She's my friend, and her son too and the animals. I said oh my gosh it's going to be all gone and I hope everything is ok," Tompkins said.
WQAD News 8 did try to speak with the owners of the home. They say they're ok but didn't want to go on camera, saddened as they watched crews work on their home.
The home is a complete loss.
"I don't want to live in the trailers anymore after seeing how quick that goes and how bad it is and what it looks like with the explosions and the pure black smoke," Tompkins said.
Neighbors are thankful that the home was the only thing taken away.
"I just thank the Lord that they're out and they're ok," Tompkins said.
Chief Mader says that the family lost a dog and cat in the fire.
It's not clear where they'll be staying while they figure everything out, but neighbors say they'll have plenty of support from everyone during this difficult time.
The cost of all the damage at the home is still being totaled up, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.