SHEBOYGAN, Wis. --
A Sheboygan family thanked area firefighters Thursday after a fire on Wednesday swallowed their home and almost took a life.
Just minutes after 15-year-old Kasandra Lehmann was rescued from the fire, the home collapsed.
Family Thanks Firefighters For Saving Teen
The girl, her father, Walter, and mother, Sandra, thanked the firefighters at the Sheboygan fire station the next morning.
I would like to thank everyone of you from here, said Walter, as he pointed to his heart.
Kasandra was sleeping on the second floor of her familys home when the fire erupted. She tried to escape, however, flames were shooting up the stairs.
I couldnt see anything because there was too much fire, Kasandra said.
The girl wrapped herself in a blanket to protect her skin from the heat and managed to find a second-story window where she saw that her parents were already outside.
It was awful, it was excruciating pain knowing I can't get to my daughter, Sandra said.
A team of three firefighters -- Chad Brandis, Steve Mechenich and Jamon Ingelse -- rescued the girl.
It didn't look good I wasn't sure how it was going to go, Brandis said.
They extended a ladder to the window and one climbed inside of the home. Mechenich had to feel around the room until he found Kasandra because the smoke was so dense.
I think at that point she kind of lunged for me I had to swing her out to the ladder by me, Mechenich said.
The Red Cross is working with the Lehmann family to help them find a new home.
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