A Santa Barbara family has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with expenses after losing most of their possessions in a house fire.
The fire occurred Sunday afternoon at 805 Orange Ave. on the Lower Westside while the family, the Terrazas, were out of town.
According to an article from KEYT-TV, the family was visiting a ranch in Santa Maria at the time with their son and two dogs.
In the GoFundMe post, Paulina Terrazas said that despite the loss of their home, the family is thankful that their loved ones are safe.
“In this challenging moment, we find solace in the kindness and generosity of others. We humbly ask for your support to help us begin to rebuild our lives and restore a sense of normalcy. Your contributions, no matter the size, will be a beacon of hope and will aid us greatly in overcoming this hardship,” Paulina Terrazas said in the post.
According to Ryan DiGuilo, a fire marshal with the Santa Barbara Fire Department, the fire was noticed by neighbors who saw the flames.
One of the neighbors directly behind the house called 911, while others tried to slow the fire with garden hoses and were trying to clear the area. DiGuilo said that some of the neighbors were across the street at a birthday party when they noticed the flames.
“When we arrived, firefighters did what we call a primary search to make sure there was nobody in there. The good news is, obviously, nobody was inside the building,” DiGuilo told Noozhawk.
Even though the Terrazas lost most of their possessions, firefighters were able to save the family’s pet turtle.
Crews contained the fire within 15 minutes. However, DiGuilo confirmed that a nearby residence to the north also was burned before firefighters were able to stop the flames.
DiGuilo said the cause of the fire is still unknown, but it appears that it started outside of the home and moved its way inside.
“It’s still under investigation, and we’re trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together until we can come up with a conclusion,” DiGuilo said.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe fundraiser. As of Tuesday evening, it had raised more than $3,700 of a $6,000 goal.
