A family of six, including four young children, escaped from a fire that destroyed their house across the river on Christmas Day.
Multiple fire departments responded to the early afternoon fire, including Kinross Township Volunteer Fire Dept, Rudyard Volunteer Fire Dept, Pickford Township Volunteer Fire Dept, Soo Township Volunteer Fire Dept. and Dafter Township Volunteer Fire Dept., along with Kinross EMS.
The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office Victim Services Unit was on scene assisting with the family.
According to fire officials, the initial call came in to 911 for a chimney fire around 2 p.m. Wednesday at 16485 S. Johnson Road in Kinross Township.
Ritchey Brown lives across the road and watched the firefighters battle the blaze.
"The guys at the fire departments and the sheriffs, they were fantastic," he said. "They worked hard and worked late."
Brown was able to talk to the homeowner, Jeremy Tell, who tried to put the chimney fire out himself by climbing up on the roof with a garden hose.
"He was working in the shed in the front of the house while the others were inside the house. Kayla (Price) woke up with the smoke and got everybody out," Brown said.
That's when Jeremy tried in earnest to put the fire out. However, the fire spread too quickly.
Jeremy was transported to the hospital due to smoke inhalation.
"It's pretty tragic because it's such a young family with four young kids and happening on Christmas Day. It's just terrible.They have a baby that's just a few weeks old."
Jeremy and Kayla are engaged with the four children.
"We are all here for them. Whatever they need," Brown said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help out the family.
Our sister site, SooLeader, will have more updates from fire officials as they become available.