A Stuarts Draft family of five is homeless after their house burned to the ground Sunday.

Derek and Crystal Richardson can hardly find the words to describe losing their home. A blazing fire consumed the home on the 1000 block of Howardsville Turnpike in a matter of minutes.

Derek says, "It's still hard to sit there and watch everything that you have worked so hard for go up in smoke in a matter of ten to 20 minutes."

The family left the house Sunday evening with the house safely intact. When they returned, their home was completely engulfed in flames.

Crystal says, "There are no words, you just have to stand there and watch it. I mean all five of us came out alive that's the main thing."

The Richardsons say family and neighbors have offered all the help they can to get them back on their feet.

Crystal adds, "The whole community has pulled together and they're working with us and making sure we have a place to stay and that we have food and clothes."

While the family is thankful they are safe, they realize getting things back to normal will take some time.

Crystal says, "We have to take one day at a time and one step at a time."

The Richardsons and their three children were not at home when the fire started. Their dog was in the house, but he was fortunately outside and is safe as well.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.