GoFundMe started for Colorado Springs veteran family who lost everything in a fire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Eight people are picking up the pieces after a devastating fire at a home-turned-apartment in Colorado Springs.

On August 1, the residents had about five minutes to get out before the whole home was engulfed in flames.

Every family that lived in the apartment-style home, which residents said was over 100 years old, lost everything.

One of the families impacted was the Willoughby family. Jacob Willoughby told KRDO he had just transitioned out of the army a day before he woke up to his home in flames. While he and his wife made out safe, they weren't able to save anything from the house except their cat.

Now, a friend of Jacob's who served with him in the army started a GoFundMe to try and help the Willoughby family during this difficult time.

Another family affected was the Benson family. They had just sustained a cancer diagnosis before the fire. They had to jump off the roof in order to survive. The father of the family sustained severe injuries as a result. The mother of the family, according to her sister, was rescued by a stranger who helped her.

"I'd really like to be able to think that man if he ever comes forward," Killina Benson said.

Now, both of them need surgery and other medical procedures. But their identification documents were reduced to ash, meaning that they have to get re-issued ID cards and birth certificates. Killina's coworker started a GoFundMe as well to help the family get back on their feet.

"Everything has just been destroyed.  So we just have to restart over from ground zero," Willoughby said.