GoFundMe Set Up For Homeowners After Fire Caused $350K Damage

EDGEWOOD, MD — A kitchen fire that caused $350,000 damage and property loss has prompted a family member to launch a GoFundMe.

Katie Sweeney, the oldest daughter of homeowners Scott and Karen Zissimos, shared online that the early morning kitchen fire spread quickly, destroying the kitchen and living room, and heavily damaging the rest of their home.

The fire broke out around 5:58 a.m. Sept. 11 at the one-story, single family home located in the 300 block of Kennard Avenue. Around three dozen firefighters from the Abingdon Fire Company responded to the call for help and found a fire in the home's kitchen, Patch reported previously.

"The owner was asleep when she awoke to a smoke alarm and discovered a fire in her kitchen. She, her dog and her cats were able to escape and call 911. Deputy state fire marshals credit the smoke alarm for saving her and her pets' lives. Firefighters were able to contain the bulk of the fire to the kitchen; however, the home sustained extensive heat, smoke, soot and water damage," the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal reported.

Investigators said the cause of the fire appears to be a food dehydrator that malfunctioned. The home experienced $200,000 in damage and $150,000 in loss of contents, the state fire marshal's office disclosed.

"By God’s grace, my mom was home at the time and was alerted by the smoke detectors. She was able to get herself and the family dog out safely. My dad had already left for work that morning. While we are so thankful that everyone is safe, the reality is that my parents lost nearly everything," Sweeney wrote. "Right now, they are displaced from their home and will be until insurance steps in and the long process of rebuilding can begin, an estimated 8 to 12 months until they are back in there home. In the meantime, they are faced with the overwhelming task of replacing their essentials and starting over."

Anyone interested in supporting the family can visit GoFundMe.