FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — A Fall River mother is crediting her 4-year-old son with saving their lives after their home caught fire Monday afternoon. Melissa Langella told 12 News she was in the kitchen with her son Maverick when he expressed concern over smelling "something funny." Langella initially thought it was the toaster oven, so she unplugged it. But Maverick wouldn't let it go — and the smell got worse. "He was persistent," Langella recalled. "He was like 'Mommy, it smells really bad.'" "I started to see a haze in the kitchen and smoke coming up the walls — thick, black smoke," she continued. RELATED: Flames rip through historic Fall River home Langella said that's when she picked up her son and rushed out of the burning home. "I grabbed my son and ran as quickly as I could," she said. "I could just feel his body shaking with fear." Langella told 12 News that, once she was outside, she handed Maverick to an officer and tried to go back inside to save her dogs. "I ran up the hill and I wanted to go back in and get the dogs," she said. "But I remember another officer stopping me and saying, 'You can't go back in.'" Langella said her dogs unfortunately didn't make it out alive. No one else was home at the time, though investigators believe the fire started downstairs in her father's apartment. Langella and her family are now trying to figure out their next steps. "It could be worse," Langella said. "My parents could be planning our funerals instead." Though she's grateful no one was hurt, Langella said seeing her childhood home engulfed in flames was absolutely devastating. "My grandparents put their blood, sweat and tears into this house," Langella said through tears. "You don't know how it feels until you're in this situation, and I wish it upon nobody." Ruth-Ann Vieira who has known Langella and her family for years, knew she had to step in and support them. "I knew she wouldn't ask for help, so I took it upon myself to get her the help she deserves," said Vieira, who also owns County Fare in Somerset. Vieira is donating a portion of her proceeds from her restaurant to the Langella family. She's also collecting other donations for them as well, including gift cards, clothing, toiletries and even toys for Maverick. "It's a beautiful thing," she said. "You think that there's nothing good in the world, and it's awful to have something like this to remind you that there are so many good people." Vieira has created a GoFundMe to collect donations for Langella and her family as well. So far, it's raised more than $17,000. Langella said a GoFundMe has also been created to support their tenant Ashley Hurley, who lived in a separate apartment and lost her cat in the fire. "I was here when the firefighters took her cat out, and I had such high hopes," Langella said. "But she got the same bad news we did." The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time. It's unclear whether the home has been deemed a total loss. "I'm trying to be realistic because there's so much damage," Langella said. "But it was built with such strong bones, and I'm hoping that those bones hold on and allow us to create more memories." Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less