A York County family is homeless tonight after a huge fire destroyed their home this morning and the community is reaching out to help.
The fire broke out in the laundry room of the home around 4 a.m. and the cause is undetermined. Homeowner Chris Chronister and his family woke up to the smoke alarms; he tried to fight it with a fire extinguisher.
"Before I could even turn around, I already saw flames again," says Chronister. "So I tried to spray it again, did one of these with my shirt, and it was hopeless, it was already hopeless."
The smoke on the 500-block of South Walnut Street in Wrightsville could be seen for miles. Firefighters battled the flames for hours. No one was injured.
The family lost 90% percent of their clothes and other items, including baby photos.
It's part of a storm for the family. Chronister has cancer and he recently had to close the family's store, River Rat Music in Columbia, Lancaster County. He was storing some of the music equipment in the home.
The family's insurance policy will pay for them to stay temporarily in a hotel, then an apartment.
"Our outlook is to get our house redone, and carry on," says Chronister.
Friends are collecting cash donations to help the family. To help, visit the site here.