STACY, Minn. — One day before Thanksgiving, Danielle Thompson and Justin Honken lost everything they’d spent years building.

“It’s really hard to see everything that we worked so hard for just gone in a matter of minutes,” Thompson said, standing in front of the home she and Honken rented in Stacy. “We worked so hard to get to where we’re at today,” Honken added.

A fire erupted outside the back of the house on Wednesday afternoon as Honken was making lunch for his children. He said his daughter spotted smoke outside as she was sitting in the kitchen. 

“Before I knew it, the fire was already into the kitchen and I was getting the kids out.”

Honken got himself, his two children and two dogs out safely, but said he had to watch the house and everything in it burn to ash before fire crews arrived. Thompson was not home at the time, but came back as the house was still burning.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, which is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal.

“We lost everything,” Thompson said. “We walked out with what we’re wearing.”

Thompson and Honken are now staying in a hotel. They are urging other renters to consider the importance of insurance. The couple did not have renters insurance, a decision they said they now regret. 

“It’s a big thing,” Honken said. “Make sure you get that. It’s a must because you think it ain’t going to happen to you. It can, it could and it might.”

Honken is the owner of Home Proz LLC, a remodeling and construction company. He lost all of his essential work tools in the fire.

Despite the loss, the couple is choosing to remain positive this Thanksgiving and determined to keep moving forward. “We’re all still here. We have a lot to be thankful for,” Thompson said.

Two online fundraisers are available to help the couple rebuild their lives. You can access the fundraisers by clicking here and here.