CICERO, Ill. (WGN) – A 32-year-old Illinois bride was at the altar late Saturday afternoon when her home exploded nearby and burst into flames.

“I ran here in my wedding dress, like down the alley, and was watching from a neighbor’s yard,” said Eleni Vrettos, of Cicero. “Everything was just smoke at that point.”

All family members who lived in the home were at the ceremony when the explosion happened. However, investigators announced Sunday that the remains of an unidentified person had been found among the rubble.

Vrettos told affiliate WGN that inside the home were her four beloved cats as well as two that belonged to her mother.

Just after 4:50 p.m. Saturday, the explosion was caught on several surveillance cameras belonging to nearby homes and businesses. Debris, bricks and other items from inside the home could be seen flying across the roadway, hitting vehicles and other buildings.

Within seconds, neighbors said, it was an inferno, with massive flames and smoke billowing from the collapsed building.

Vrettos, who just minutes before had celebrated her wedding, started getting calls as the ceremony ended around 5 p.m.

“We weren’t sure if it was us, obviously, either way, we were devastated to know it was near us,” Vrettos said. “My niece left the church. She confirmed that, yes, it was our house.”

Vrettos said she and her brother recently took over ownership of the home after it had been in her mother’s name for nearly 40 years. They were planning to help with updates and renovations to take the burden off. However, they were in the process of transferring home insurance, so they did not have coverage at the time of the fire.

“I’m just really scared for the unknown,” said Vrettos.

To Vrettos’ family, the home was more than the walls that once stood. It was a place where she grew up, shared cherished memories with family members, and prepared to return to as a married woman.  

Her heart aches, especially for the cats who were more than just pets. They were family.

“They were the perfect little bunch, like they all got along. I thought I would have them for years, they were all much younger, and they were my home, I would say. So now, I don’t have a home and on top of it, I don’t have them as my home,” Vrettos said. “That’s the most devastating because they’re the ones that give me the comfort through that darkness. My dad passed away a few years ago, so we don’t have the home as a remembrance of him, too. It’s a lot to grieve.”

The explosion and fire also damaged two nearby buildings.

A total of 11 units and families were impacted, according to officials in Cicero. All were getting help from the Department of General Assistance.

General Assistance Director Carolyn Arias said the damage to apartments varied, with some experiencing broken doors and windows that will need to be fixed before families can return. The town and various agencies are providing temporary housing, officials said.

Cicero Town President Larry Dominick shared his sympathies for Vrettos’ family and announced a donation drive to be organized to help families impacted by Saturday’s events. Officials said further details will be released soon.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Vrettos’ family. The cause of the explosion/fire remains under investigation.