When I was a little girl, our house caught on fire. It burned to the ground.
When I was a little girl, we had a house fire and it burned to the ground.
user
Oh no!  How did that happen?
assistant
It came from next door. Someone knocked over a kerosene stove. 
user
That's horrible.  I hope you and your family made it out okay!
assistant
Yes, it was scary but nobody was hurt. I am grateful for that.
user