SALISBURY, N.C. -- Flames shot up through the roof of a house along North Lee Street in Salisbury early Thursday, leaving behind nothing but a charred, blackened skeleton.

Lyn Adrian lived there with her two children. They lost everything in just minutes.

"We both smelled smoke, and the dining room was ablaze. In two seconds, it went up the stairs. We had to get out," she said.

The trio got out safely and then realized some other important family members were still stuck inside -- several dogs and some puppies just days old.

Mother and son fought threw the smoke, ran back into the house and rescued the defenseless pets.

"We saved the puppies. We got five and three older ones. We saved them all," Adrian said.

The flames spread so fast that fire crews said it was already too late to save the house when they arrived. They were able to save the neighbor's house just feet away, however.

Now, with Thanksgiving a week away, the family is looking toward a bleak holiday season.

"We have no clothes and no shoes, no coats, no nothing,” Adrian said.

Crews spent most of the day putting out hot spots. Investigators said it was an electrical fire but they still don't know which appliance caused it.

The Red Cross is helping the victims. They will temporarily live at a rental house until they find a new place to live.