On Friday, Sept 12, my family's home was destroyed in a house fire. My name is Christian, and I’m the oldest son. We lost almost everything, and we're raising money to help us get back on our feet.

The fire started accidentally outside on our back porch because the grill had a small gas leak. In an instant, the flames spread and engulfed the siding of our house. My mom was inside with my two younger brothers, Sebastian and Maximiliano, and our dog, Hachi. Sebastian opened the back door, saw the massive flames and smoke, and yelled, "Fire!"

My mom immediately grabbed my brothers and our dog and rushed them to my bedroom window to get out. Our incredible neighbor saw what was happening and helped them get out safely.

I was at the grocery store when my mom called me with the horrifying news. I dropped everything and saw the smoke and sirens from where I was. As I got closer, I saw my house burning down. I ran to my family, hugged them all, and was so incredibly thankful they were safe. I watched the smoke get thicker and the fire grow bigger, feeling overwhelmed and trying to process the severity of what was happening.

After about three hours, the fire was finally controlled. When we were allowed to go inside, the damage was devastating. The fire had burned through the attic, causing the roofs in the kitchen, laundry room, and my parents’ bedroom to collapse. Everything underneath was covered in ash, water, and debris. The smell of smoke was intense and had soaked into everything.

While some rooms were spared from the flames, the smoke and soot damaged nearly every single item in our home. My mom's room and bathroom were completely destroyed—the bathtub even melted from the heat. All of her and my little brother’s clothes, and his baby crib, were gone. The living room was filled with debris, and my brother Sebastian’s toys were ruined by water mixed with ash. Even the items in the rooms that didn't burn were so badly smoke-damaged that they had to be thrown out.

Currently, our family is split up, with my brothers and parents staying at my stepdad's family's house and me staying with a partner. We are all dealing with the emotional and financial stress of this tragedy. Especially with us having no renters' insurance. Any donation will help us with immediate needs like temporary housing, food, and replacing basic necessities. Any support or even just sharing our story would be a huge help. I will continue to keep this page updated on our progress. May god bless y'all.