The family that owns a Stamford auto body shop told News 12 they were “crushed” by the total loss of their business in a fire last week.

"Just accepting like a loss…It's a little bit of a struggle, especially since I spent most of my days here," said Darlin Ortiz, who works for her father at H O Automotive on Dyke Lane.

Her sister Daniella says the body shop wasn't just her father’s business – it was his dream, his legacy and a second home for so many. She says the most heartbreaking part is that her dad was preparing for retirement.

He called her to tell her about the fire.

"He was just like, ‘The shop's gone.’ In that moment, I was really sad and devastated…It was just really upsetting to hear all his hard work [was] gone in an instant and I could hear the panic and the sadness in his voice," said Daniella Ortiz.

The Stamford Fire Department says the blaze started after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. About 50 firefighters responded.

The building's roof collapsed. One of the shop's workers was taken to the hospital with minor burn injuries. The fire department says this is the second auto body shop fire in three months.

"There was four vehicles inside at the time of the fire. There was a lot of fuels. A lot of products that you commonly find both in auto body and auto repair – most of which are flammable," said Stamford Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Palmer.

"It's just really sad and I can't really explain how I felt in that moment, but I just know I was hurt, upset, like a little angry at the fire too. How could this have happened?" said Daniella Ortiz.

The family says they are not sure what's next. They are not sure if the business will be able to continue.

They say the shop was at this location for 23 years and helped support not only their family but others in the community too.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

A GoFundMe was started by the family to help rebuild the business.