A married couple in Hillsborough County, Florida, experienced a devastating loss on Monday morning when a fire destroyed their home of almost three years.

Flames broke out at about 1:30 a.m. on the 600 block of Jerry Smith Road, leaving behind only debris and charred rubble.

“It’s like three years of hard work and effort just vanished,” expressed Christian Michener, the homeowner. “Everything we ever had, both before we got the house and after, is gone,” echoed his wife, Madeline Stubbs.

Stubbs, said she was awake when she first heard a thud, followed moments later by the sound of glass breaking. 

Initially, Stubbs thought there was an intruder in their home. She alerted Michener, and together they managed to force their bedroom door open, only to find flames quickly spreading.

“We just see flames coming into the living room, part of our house, through the big window of the porch,” Stubbs said.

The fire consumed the home, where Michener had proposed to Stubbs on the day they closed. 

The couple said they are now facing heavy costs.

“It’s going to be very expensive,” Michener said. “In addition to paying the mortgage, we’re going to have to pay for temporary housing.”

Stubbs has launched a GoFundMe to help cover expenses. 

She said the support of their community has given them hope as they work toward rebuilding.

“I’ve come to realize that people have a lot of goodness in them,” Stubbs remarked. “The wider our story is shared, the greater the chance we have to rebuild and perhaps exceed where we were before.”

The couple said the fire started on the deck in front of the house however, the cause remains under investigation. 

8 On Your Side reached out to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for additional information and are waiting to hear back. 

To access the couple’s GoFundMe, click here.