A Valley Cottage woman is lucky to be alive after a fire tore through her house Wednesday.

The fire broke out just after 12:30 p.m. at a home on Manette Lane. Christina Adams was the only one home when the fire started and got out safely. Firefighters managed to save the family pets. Fire officials say the fire appeared to have started in the rear of the house and quickly spread, gutting at least half of the home.

The Adams were renovating the house and plan to continue because the home has been in their family for 40 years. The cause of the fire is under investigation.