CHATFIELD, Minn. (KTTC) – A Chatfield family is trying to move forward after a house fire destroyed nearly everything.

It started about 6 p.m. Monday night. A grease fire spread rapidly out of control in a home on the 400 block of Winona Street SE.

“There was already flames shooting out the windows and coming up through the eves,” said Chatfield Fire Department Chief Ryan Priebe. “So we just fought it and got it out.”

It took firefighters three hours to contain the blaze.

Art Countryman III and his family, including a dog all escaped but the house is considered a total loss.

“The kitchen was all burned and it moved into the living room and then it just went up the walls, it what happened, and then it got in the attics,” said Priebe.

“It’s pretty charred except for one room,” said Countryman. “That had all my Vikings memorabilia in it.”

The room was sealed off from the rest of the house, only sustaining minor smoke and water damage.

Some of the memorabilia dates back to the early 1960s.

Countyman is a dedicated Vikings fan and was amazed to see it all survive the blaze.

“I mean, I’m just surprised how… Oh good! This survived,” exclaimed Countyman when he discovered a family heirloom while talking with us, a sword owned by his great grandfather that has been in the family for more than 115 years.

“You can’t put a price on this, but you can’t put a price on life either,” said Countryman.

Despite losing his home, clothing, and household items, Countyman is hoping the survival of all his Viking’s memorabilia is a sign that the team will have a good season next year.

PREVIOUS STORY

—————————————————————-

CHATFIELD, Minn. (KTTC) – The Chatfield community is coming together to gather donations in support of a Chatfield family that lost everything in a house fire last night.

Fire crews were called to a home on Winona St. SE in Chatfield Monday around 6 p.m.

The home is the residence of Art Countryman the third and his family.

Countryman said early indications are pointing to a grease fire. He said while most of his home was destroyed, a room filled with more than 50 years of Vikings memorabilia is still in tact.

“Cooking fire, grease fire started. Lost everything and lost everything except for my Vikings stuff, but you know.”

Friends of the family are helping gather donations of clothing and items to meet their immediate needs.

If you would like to help this family, you can make a financial donation at F&M Bank in Chatfield or Preston.

Direct the funds to the Art Countryman III benefit.

Tune into KTTC tonight for more on this developing story.