One Albert Lea couple is lucky to be alive today after their house caught fire in the wee hours this morning.

Albert Lea Fire Department Lt. Dennis Glassel said thanks to the swift actions of their neighbors, Kristopher Schewe and his fiancé Beth Sackson were saved from their burning home, 322 Vine Ave. in Albert Lea. Their two cats and one dog did not survive.

Glassel said firefighters were dispatched to the house at 1:50 a.m. today.

When they arrived, the lower floor was fully engulfed in flames, he said.

Neighbor Kevin Clapper, 320 Vine Ave., said his 15-year-old son, Alex, awoke because he thought it was daytime but it turned out to be the light from the fire. He woke up his mom, Tina, and his father. Kevin then called 911.

Tina went outside to throw rocks at the upstairs bedroom window to wake Schewe and Sackson. Kevin attempted a ladder rescue from one window before switching to another window. Albert Lea police officers arrived to assist. They successfully brought the couple out of the house and down the ladder.

The Clappers, speaking with the Tribune this morning, said Schewe and Sackson were taken to Albert Lea Medical Center to be treated for smoke inhalation.

They said many people from the neighborhood woke up and gathered outside to watch the Albert Lea firefighters douse the blaze.

“The response from the fire department was tremendously quick,” Tina Clapper said.

Glassel said all of the shifts from the department were called in, and the last truck left just after 4:30 a.m.

Glassel said the fire remains under investigation, and as of this morning the cause was unknown. He noted the state fire marshal was called in to assist in the investigation.

He anticipated more answers in the next few days, including damage estimates.

At this point, he noted there was extensive damage.

Schewe and Sackson were renting the house from Schewe’s mother, Karen Kral.