MADISON, Wis. (WKOW) – A family of seven and their dog lost their home in an early morning fire on Madison's south side. The fire began near the kitchen around 2 a.m. during a snowstorm, leaving everything inside destroyed.
Deoone Brown, the children's grandmother, says the family had to climb through a window to escape.
"They lost everything when they came here this morning. They didn't have on coats... as you see, she still got on her pajamas. Everybody had on pajamas. They didn't have shoes," Brown said.
She sat with me in her living room with her granddaughter, as she walked me through her morning. She shared how emotional it was for her to be reunited with her family.
"My son, his wife, and all the kids just piled in... and we all hugged each other, start crying. I'm a little choked up right now... it was real stressful," Brown said.
Now she's focused on helping them stay warm and safe while figuring out how to start over.
"We called different people to see if we can get help... and this is close to Christmas. I got all my decorations out... and this happened," Brown said.
One of her grandkids' principals stopped by with a pair of boots and a coat, which gave them a moment of gratitude. However, the reality is the family needs to find a new home.
"We're gonna all pull together and try to make it work for the good. You know, I'm not just gonna leave them out there, homeless, sleeping in the car, but it's hard for me. I need some help. They need some help," Brown said.
The family has temporary sleeping arrangements. For those interested in helping them rebuild, here is a link to their GoFundMe.
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