ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Some local firefighters continue their mission to protect a family hit by a devastating fire that claimed the life of an elderly woman last month.

The Escambia County Professional Firefighters Union raised 500 dollars for the family, but as Channel Three's Dan Thomas explains, the sacrifice they're making means more to the family than the money.

It was inside this home where Cynthia Musa lost her mother Eunice Williams. Both were inside asleep when some faulty wiring sparked the blaze. Wednesday night, Cynthia was able to bring a small amount of closure to a personal family tragedy.

Cynthia Musa/Lost Mother in House Fire: "My mom is the one who woke me up."

It happened around 10:30 on a Saturday night.

All Cynthia Musa remembers is the home being full of smoke.

Cynthia Musa/Lost Mother in House Fire: "I held her hand like this, and I turned around and she was gone. I couldn't breathe, and by the time I come back inside the house, she was gone."

Firefighters were on the scene within minutes.

J.P. Norris/Escambia Firefighter: "It was just textbook, every company did what they were supposed to do."

Terrell Jackson/Ferry Pass Volunteer Firefighter: "Me being a volunteer, I heard it over the radio, but I didn't catch the address."

Little did Terrell Jackson know that it was his great-aunt's house. He rushed over there, but it was too late.

Terrell Jackson/Ferry Pass Volunteer Fire Fighter: "You don't know how it feels until it hits you actually. You go into burning buildings to rescue other people. Until it's one of your own you don't know what they're feeling until it happens."

Eunice and Cynthia were flown to a burn center in Georgia where Cynthia made a full recovery, and where Eunice died.

The firefighters union raised 5 hundred dollars for Cynthia. She says she will use it to buy her mother's headstone and find a new place to live.

She's grateful for the money, but Wednesday night she was more grateful she was able to thank these emergency workers for doing everything they could.

Cynthia Musa/Lost Mother in House Fire: "I love you all and I thank y'all. Neither one of us didn't get burnt. Y'all did y'all's job. I appreciate that and I love you guys."

One positive thing to already come from this: firefighters have have gone door-to-door in this neighborhood and installed 38 smoke detectors. Reporting in Escambia County, Dan Thomas, Channel Three News.Firefighters Donate Money and Time to Victim of House Fire