VIDEO: Local Family Picks Up Pieces After Fire

When it comes to starting over, Susan and Brian Fogde know it's never easy.

The Fogdes are still in shock and disbelief as their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that they had rented out for the past two years now resembles a scene out of a war movie. Since the Jan. 31 fire, the smell of smoke still permeates the house, and lifeless walls, where posters and pictures once hung, are left with somber stain marks from the heat.

. Even though firefighters arrived at the scene just minutes after the 911 call from the Fogde's 21-year-old daughter, Khrystina, the flames quickly spread from the garage to the rest of the 1,700-square-foot house.

With more than $300,000 in damages and no renters insurance coverage, the Fogdes are facing the bitter reality that their years of memories, including Brian's extensive baseball card collection and Susan's holiday decorations, now sit in a pile of ash. 

Susan, who turns 50 in May, said going back to the house has been difficult for her.

"It was 50 years of life and things that were in that house that you don't realize that it's gone yet, until you lay there and you think of something that was tucked away somewhere," she said, while fighting back tears. "I'm so thankful obviously that the kids are OK. You don't lose a child and not realize what's important in life."

Eight years ago, Susan lost her father, and four months later, her 19-year-old daughter passed away unexpectedly. Less than a year later, her nephew was diagnosed with leukemia.

When the economy crashed, the family had to sell their 3,000-square-foot home, and Brian had to juggle two jobs.

"He was working at his insurance business during the day and coming home, sleeping for a couple of hours and went to work at ," Susan said.

They said, in 2010, things were starting to looking brighter when Brian landed his current job at Comcast's sales department in Fife, and Susan was hired at the Peninsula Gig Harbor Senior Living on 50th Street Court Northwest.

Their eldest daughter, Khrystina, is enrolled in the Pacific Lutheran University's nursing program. She recently moved back home to help care for her two younger brothers, Cameron, 11, and Quinn, 9, while Susan worked. Their 19-year-old son, Jeff, is currently studying to be a paramedic at Central Washington University. Susan said one of the two cars that were scorched in the fire was Jeff's truck, which was uninsured since he was away at college.

Susan said she was preparing coffee at the retirement center when she got the frantic call from her daughter.

"Khrystina was hysterical, and all I really knew was that it was her voice. She was screaming and crying."

Susan said she has had some bad phone calls in her life, but nothing prepared her to drive down the road and find the home engulfed in flames.

Brian, who graduated from Peninsula High School, said he was in such a state of shock right after the fire that the emotions didn't hit him until the next day.

"I couldn't go to sleep. At six o'clock in the morning, I woke up, and that's when it all hits you. I just woke up in tears," said Brian. "To go back to the house, and just looking at it and just not knowing what to do."

While they move on in disbelief and uncertainty, the family are still left without most of their belongings.

Firefighters from the Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One were able to salvage two plastic bins with family pictures and one of their two cats.

Household items, including kitchen appliances, clothes, shoes and electronics were also damaged in the fire.

"People will say, 'Well, what can I do? What do you need?' When it's everything, you don't even know what to say," Susan said. "It's things you don't even realize you had that you just take for granted."

The Fogdes said they have been overwhelmed with the love and support from the community. Last Saturday, the family's friends and neighbors stopped by the house for a cleaning party.

They grabbed whatever was left inside and sorted out whatever could be saved.

After years of giving back to the community, Susan and Brian said they have trouble adjusting to being on the receiving end.

"It's very humbling, but it's really hard to be on this side. I was in junior league [of Tacoma] for eight years, and Brian coached baseball and football," she said. "I can ask for anything for anybody else, but it's hard to ask for yourself. "

While the family finds a new home, the Peninsula Gig Harbor Senior Living has offered to house the couple and three of their children. 

The Fogdes said they're looking at several places to rent but want to make sure they stay within the area so that their two boys can stay in Kopachuck Middle and Artondale Elementary schools.

"We're taking it one step at a time," Brian said.

"All the blessings and all the things and the donations and all the love and support  is amazing, but then when you're alone with your thoughts and you'll remember something that is gone, that's hard." Susan said. "Thank you really doesn't seem like enough."

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If you would like to help out the Fogdes, you can stop by any Columbia Bank location and donate to the Susan and Brian Fogde and Family Account. 

If you would like to donate clothing items, they have . Smaller items can be dropped off at the Peninsula Gig Harbor Senior Living at 3445 50th Street Court NW. Larger items should be dropped off at 6508 Wollochet Drive, Building 2A. Please call Brian at 253-549-3615 or Susan at 253-549-3563 to set up an appointment. 

While the family appreciates any help, they said gift cards are preferred so that they could combine them to purchase necessary items.