Two GoFundMe campaigns have been launched in response to a house fire that displaced seven people in Kenmore.
The fire was on July 28 and left Lindsay Merino, her husband and their 4-year-old daughter, two of Merino’s brothers-in-law, the property manager and his wife without a home.
According to Northshore Fire Department fire inspector and public information officer Wendy Booth, two of the seven residents were out of town during the fire and two other residents were not in the home at the time of the fire.
Booth said the remaining three residents got out of the home with no reported injuries. Two cats were also in the home at the time of the fire. One cat was rescued by firefighters. The second cat fled the home and has not been located since.
Red Cross services were offered to the displaced residents, but they are staying with family members, Booth said.
The GoFundMe campaigns were started by Merino’s sister, and the other by her husband’s coworker and in the span of about four days, the combined totals from the two campaigns raised about $10,000.
“It’s amazing. It’s shocking,” Merino said. “I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to everyone who has donated. I didn’t think we’d even get close to that number.”
In addition to GoFundMe donations, friends and neighbors donated food, toys and clothes.
“It’s just overwhelming. We can’t stress how much this means to us,” Merino said.
From the donations, Merino and her family have signed a lease on a new house in Bothell and will be moving within the next few days.
“Everyone’s been so generous and we can’t thank everyone enough,” she said.
The fire engulfed the home in the 6200 block of Northeast 203rd Place, where flames could be seen from the air.
Firefighters were called at about 2:35 p.m.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated by the King County investigation unit. A report is expected to be released in about one week.