Filled with shock and sadness, Sara and Cassidy Schmidt looked around in disbelief.
"Everything's gone," Sara said tearfully.
A fire destroyed the couple's home in New London over the weekend. They walked through the damage for the first time Monday.
"We haven't been in here yet," Cassidy said.
The two received a call Saturday night from Waupaca County dispatch about a fire at their home, but by the time they got there, the roads leading to their house were blocked off.
"Five different fire departments were here, and the ladder truck, and half the building had been bulldozed away," Sara said.
The cause of the fire is unknown. Now, the family is left trying to figure out their next step.
"You never think that it's going to happen to you, you hear about it from other people, you never think that it's going to be your family," Sara explained. "So we were shocked."
Three cats and a bird were lost in the fire. What hurt the most, Sara said, was telling her kids their best friends were gone.
"Having to tell your kids that they're all dead, it's not something that you can...it's just surreal," she said. "You can't explain how horrible that feels."
However, the Schmidt's said they're grateful their family is safe and no one was hurt.
The family does have a GoFundMe page. If you'd like to donate to help them rebuild, you can donate by clicking here.
