LAKE ELMO, Minn. - A family of six lost their home and pets to a house fire early Friday morning.
Lake Elmo Fire Chief Greg Malmquist said crews were paged to the fire on 57th Street at about 4:20 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found a fully involved structure fire.
One day later, after losing everything, the family is feeling lucky that everyone made it out alive.
The only casualties of the fire were two retrievers named Juliette and Grizz.
"If it hadn't been for the smoke detectors, the whole family would have slept right through it," homeowner Kristoffer Breien says.
Within 45 seconds of hearing the smoke detectors, Breien says the entire upper floor had filled up with smoke.
He says only two of his four sons were awake at the time. He and his wife had to wake up the others before dashing out the front door.
"You couldn't see, because there was so much smoke," Breien says. "This whole idea of trying to grab things that are important is completely not going to happen."
The family escaped with literally nothing, not even their identities.
Breien says the family lost every license, birth certificate and passport in the house. The only items they were able to save were the clothes on their back.
"Not even that," Breien chuckles. "I ended up at my neighbor's house in my underwear for like four hours."
Countless friends and family members have come forward to provide clothing and a place to stay. The Red Cross is also assisting the family.
Breien says many others have come forward to help, but he doesn't know what else to ask for, being that the home and property are both covered by insurance.
"It's not what you can do for us," Breien says. "It's what you can do you for your own family."
Breien is encouraging other homeowners to make a plan, because he admits his family never gave fire safety a second thought.
"I never thought this would happen to us," he says.
After speaking with firefighters he learned that modern day construction materials make it more important than ever for families to have a plan.
Firefighters at the scene said most modern day materials contain petroleum and other synthetics that are more quick to ignite.
"If you smell smoke or your detector goes off, don't assume it's on the fritz, just go and go fast," Breien says.
Fire officials say the fire appears to have started on the exterior of the home. The cause is under investigation.
The Lake Elmo Fire Department was assisted by crews from Oakdale, Mahtomedi, Stillwater, Bayport, and Lower St. Croix Valley, along with Lakeview Ambulance and the Washington County Sheriff's Office.