MISHAWAKA — Two young boys escaped an explosion and house fire that ended up destroying the entire home. The fire broke out in the 56000 block of Andrea Court in Mishawaka Saturday morning.

"The floor from the fireplace through the kitchen is completely gone," said homeowner Melissa Chalman.

For Melissa, looking at the place she's called home for 10 years feels surreal.

"I guess just waves of shock," she said.

Saturday was set to be a special day. Melissa's youngest son turned 9.

While he and his older brother stayed at home playing a video game, she went to an appointment. Minutes later, Melissa received a frantic phone call.

"I picked up the phone and it was my son saying he was at the neighbors, the house was on fire. And then my neighbor picked up the phone because I couldn't believe it," said Melissa.

Melissa and her husband Erik are thankful their 11-year-old son acted quickly after hearing a series of noises.

"A fire alarm was going off, and a pop, and a bang. So he kind of checked downstairs, saw smoke and grabbed his younger brother, called 911," said Melissa.

"I came out and all you could see was smoke billowing out the roof and the back of the house and out the front of the house," said neighbor Carol Mellen.

The Chalmans may have lost their home, but they say they'll never forget the memories they shared.

“It's just being in the backyard playing with the boys a lot of the times," said Erik.

And if there's anything they've learned, they say you can always count on your neighbors.

"You never know really how nice people are until something bad happens. And you know the people down there that we don't even know, I was down there looking for our cats and apparently all the neighbors down there are looking for our cats, which is nice," said Melissa.

Six fire departments helped contain the fire. They initially tried fighting it on the inside, but the flames moved too quickly, so they moved outside. Shortly after that, the first floor caved in.