It took Sarah Tagle seconds to wake the four other family members in the house, grab her 8-year-old and 5-year-old in her arms and get everyone outside to safety.

Her 1,600 square-foot home at 144 S. Kenwood St. was on fire.

There was no time to put on clothes or shoes or think about what items to save. She ran out of the house in a tank top and shorts without shoes in below-freezing temperatures. Her 5-year-old daughter, Gloria, cried at the thought of leaving her stuffed animals behind.

"I saw the couch was on fire and yelled," Sarah Tagle said. "It was like I was floating. I got both my kids in my hands and got the hell out of there."

Tagle's house that she shares with her partner, Charles Frye, and five children caught on fire Friday about 11:40 p.m. Tagle, Frye and their children, Gloria Tagle, 5, Carlos Tagle, 8, and Mercedez Frye, 14, were at the home when the fire started. Two other children were not at home at the time.

"Flames were touching the ceiling," Frye said, describing the scene in the couple's living room. "Black smoke was head-high. You couldn't breathe and it was hot."

The cause of the fire hadn't officially been determined as of Saturday afternoon, said Justin Smith, spokesman for Casper Fire-EMS.

The family survived the fire mostly unharmed but suffered the loss of its family dog.

Tagle said she and Carlos were treated at the Wyoming Medical Center for smoke inhalation.

The house, where the family of seven has lived for about four years, was pretty much destroyed, Tagle said.

"The downstairs is completely gone," Tagle said. "The upstairs, there is a lot of soot. Everything is black, even the food inside the refrigerator."

About 20 firefighters from Casper Fire-EMS responded to the fire about 11:45 p.m. Friday, Smith said. He said 30 to 50 percent of the house suffered heat damage and the rest of it suffered smoke damage.

Frye said he is not sure what they will do with the house or if it can be salvaged. The American Red Cross has paid for the couple and children to stay five nights at the Skyler Inn. Some friends of the couple are trying to find them a place to rent.

The main portion of the fire was extinguished minutes after the fire department arrived, according to a Casper Fire-EMS press release, but crews remained on scene until about 3:15 a.m. Saturday, cleaning up and investigating.

Though the fire department hadn't determined the cause Saturday, Tagle said she believes the fire started after Carlos woke up during the night and tried to plug in a hot, 600-watt light. The light burned his hands. Sarah Tagle said she thinks he dropped the light on the couch and covered it with his blanket, but she is not sure of the details.

The fire burned Carlos' nose and singed his hair.

Sarah Tagle had gone to bed about 9 p.m. and she left a sleeping Carlos on the couch, she said. She checked on him about 11 p.m. and when she saw him sleeping, she went back to bed.

Shortly thereafter, she was awakened by the loud beeping of a smoke detector, which she said saved all of their lives.

She also credits NOWCAP Services, an organization that provides a variety of services to individuals with disabilities, with saving their lives.

"They came to the house last winter and weatherized it," Tagle said. "They put in smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors. We didn't have them before."

Smith stressed the use of smoke detectors.

"That is how and why they got out of the house," Smith said. "We want them to check smoke detectors and have batteries for them. They are inexpensive enough. $30 or $40 is worth the lives of you and your family."

Despite losing everything, including their Christmas tree and some Christmas presents, Frye said the family would have a happy holiday season because they are all alive.

Certain friends and organizations are making sure the family will get to have a merry Christmas.

A friend told Tagle she was bringing over a Christmas tree while other organizations are collecting money to buy the family Christmas presents.

Tagle said the tremendous support the community has given her family makes her cry.

After seeking immediate refuge in the nearby Papa John's Pizza, a stranger gave the barely clothed Tagle his coat. The Wyoming Medical Center gave the family hats and gloves.

Casper Fire-EMS donated $400 to the family.

Highland Park Community Church gave two huge bags of presents, plus a new bicycle, to Carlos for his birthday. Carlos turned 8 Saturday.

Tagle said the Natrona County branch of the American Red Cross got in touch with her immediately and has helped the family make it through the past 36 hours.

"It's overwhelming," Tagle said. "Everybody wants to help."