KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – An early Thursday morning fire left a local family homeless, and an effort now is under way to raise funds to help them get back on their feet.
The home of the Leary family, located on Fairway Drive in Kelseyville, was reported on fire at around 2:15 a.m. Thursday, as Lake County News has reported.
Erik and Jessica Leary and their four children – 9-year-old twin boys Kyle and Tyler, 6-year-old son Ryder and 1-year-old daughter Allyson – were able to get out safely, but the home burned to the ground, and all but the clothes they were wearing and their vehicles were destroyed, said Erik Leary's brother-in-law, Django Dexter.
“They've lost absolutely everything,” said Dexter.
The family of six was renting the home from Erik Leary's parents, according to Dexter.
Kelseyville Fire Battalion Chief Joe Huggins confirmed the home was a total loss.
He said Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire each sent two engines, Lakeport Fire sent one engine, with a medic unit, chiefs from Lakeport and Kelseyville, and battalion chiefs from Kelseyville and Cal Fire also responding.
In addition to destroying the Leary home, “A neighboring house did suffer some damage to the exterior wall,” said Huggins.
Huggins said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. “The guys have been out there the majority of the day,” he said on Thursday.
Dexter reported that the Red Cross gave the family some temporary lodging and cash, which was important since their identification cards and credit cards were burned up in the fire.
On Thursday the family's friends and relatives got to work trying to get them some additional help.
Dexter set up an account at http://www.gofundme.com/3myu8o where people can make donations to help the Leary family.
Erik Leary is a water treatment operator for Riviera West Mutual Water Co. and his wife is a preschool teacher at Learning House Infant Toddler Center in Kelseyville, Dexter said.
The fundraising goal has been set at $50,000, with about $7,200 raised in the first 15 hours, according to the GoFundMe Web site.
For additional information on how to help the family, go to http://www.gofundme.com/3myu8o and click on “contact” next to Dexter's picture.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.