A well-known Farmingdale home was destroyed in a fire Monday, leaving a family of seven without a home.

Veronica Irving feared the worst when she got the call that her brother's house was on fire. The fire broke out at Kevin and Melanie Beshears' home after 12:30 p.m.

Melanie, her 74-year-old father and her daughter were home when a neighbor banged on their door to tell them their house was on fire. The family who lived on Secatogue Avenue was left heartbroken as firefighters put out the fire.

The family escaped unharmed. Farmingdale Fire Chief Mike DiBartolo says it was a tough firefight.

"The fire was so intense and so hot ... my guys couldn't even get to the rear of the house. They got pushed back from the flames," says DiBartolo.

Leanne Beshears was at school when she heard about the fire. She rushed home to see firefighters trying to douse the flames.

"I'm just glad every person is out of the house. I'm just upset that my brother's animal didn't make it out," says Leanne Beshears.

The home was popular among friends and neighbors for its festive decorations during the holiday season.

"When I met Melanie, that's how she introduced herself. 'Hi, I'm Melanie, I have the Christmas house on Secatogue,'" a neighbor says.

Firefighters from more than a dozen departments from Nassau and Suffolk responded. Three first responders were treated for injuries.

A GoFundMe has been started to help the family recover.