2 boys rescued by parents from burning Waseca County home, community rallies to help family

A Waseca County family of five escaped a fast moving fire Friday night that destroyed their home.

Two boys, ages 10 and 12, were trapped on the second floor as the fire blocked the stairs and were rescued by their parents, who found a ladder outside to aid in the escape.

“I found the fire and it was going pretty darn good,” parent Shelly Knutson said. “That was the scariest moment we’ve ever felt."

Knutson, her six year-old daughter and husband Joe were able to escape the home before trying to get the boys out. 

“It was on the far side of the house, away from our bedrooms,” Knutson said. “I just feel like somebody was watching over us that day, that my family's safe and we got out of there.”

A burned-out shell remained of the home that has been in the family for generations.

“I couldn’t even imagine trying to deal with what’s going on in the world and then have that happen,” said Katie Knutson, a relative.

Katie Knutson helped with setting up a GoFundMe page that also mentioned a drop off donation site at the Souba Greenhouse in Owatonna.

Long-time family friend Jody Hugley said total strangers drove up, along with those who knew the family, to bring clothes and other items to help them rebuild their lives over the weekend.

"They’d leave bags, then they’d pull a $100 dollar bill out," Hugley said. "It's amazing how trusting and loving and how much people want to give when something like this happens." 

The community's outpouring of support helped the family find hope as they move forward.

According to fire officials, because the destruction was so great, no cause was found.