South Los Angeles Family Loses Home To Early Morning Arson -- After Being Burglarized

SOUTH LA (CBSLA.com) — A family in South Los Angeles is safe Thursday morning, but their home of six years was lost to a fire in the early hours of Thanksgiving.

The fire was called in shortly after 4 a.m., and involved a single family near 73rd Street and Vermont Avenue.

Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set.

The structure's roof caved in at 4:27 a.m., shortly before the fire was declared a knockdown at 4:50 a.m.

While the exact cause of the fire remained under investigation, fire officials said it was likely a case of arson.

The Rodriguez family was expected to be the guest of firefighters holding Thanksgiving dinner at Fire Station 73 in South LA.

Rafael Rodriguez was at work and his wife and two young daughters were at his mother-in-laws house.

CBS2's Jasmine Viel said Matias Rodriguez, a neighbor, called Rafael around 4 a.m. to tell him about the fire.

Investigators won't say who set the fire but did say the front door was open and the house was empty when firefighters arrived.

Rodriguez said burglars stole Christmas presents and electronics.

He told Viel the family was definitely planning on rebuilding.

Their home is just a blackened shell, but Rodriguez said he was grateful no one was hurt.

"Thankful that we have our lives," he said, "we have our lives."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help provide relief for the family of four, and it can be accessed by clicking here.