The Mazurkiewicz home on Lake Avenue in Minn Lake was heavily damaged by fire and water.

A Minnesota Lake family faced two tragedies in a 14-hour period last week. First they lost their home and possessions in a fire, then they were involved in a tragic car accident the next day.

Joseph Mazurkiewicz and his sons, Robert and Shawn, were at their home on Lake Avenue in Minnesota Lake when a fire broke out at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.

The Minnesota Lake Fire Department reports they received the page and when they arrived the house was fully engulfed.

It took five hours, 30,000 gallons of water, and working in subzero temperatures before the fire was extinguished, the department reported.

The department also reported everyone was safe, and issued thanks to the Minn Lake Ambulance, Minn Lake Street Department, Minn Lake Police Department, Xcel Energy, Easton Fire Department, Wells Fire Department and Faribault County Sheriff’s Office for all the help Saturday night/early Sunday morning.

The three Mazurkie-wicz men spent the night in Mankato and were returning to Minnesota Lake when they were involved in a traffic accident at 1:40 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13.

According to a report from the Minnesota State Patrol, Joseph Edward Mazurkiewicz, 76, of Minnesota Lake, was driving a 2008 Chevy Uplander on Highway 22 near mile marker 146 in Mapleton Township when it drifted off to the left and entered the ditch where it crashed and rolled over.

Mazurkiewicz was flown by air ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with life-threatening injuries. It was later reported that he was on life-support, and then reported that he died on Thursday of last week.

A passenger in the vehicle, Robert Fredrick Mazurkiewicz, 39, of Minnesota Lake, was taken by ambulance to MCHS in Mankato with non-life threatening but very serious injuries.

Another passenger, Shawn Paul Mazurkie-wicz, 29, of Minnesota Lake, was reported to not have been injured.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family with expenses in dealing with their double tragedy.