FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Ohio — A community in Fairfield County is rallying to support a family after they lost almost everything in a house fire Thursday morning. Fortunately no one was injured in the fire.
Justin Miller and Danielle Prosser said they had just moved into the home with their three kids about a week ago.
Rick Ellas, Mayor of the Village of Baltimore, and longtime friend of the Millers got the ball rolling to help.
"Within an hour, we had a GoFundMe, a Venmo, and we were rolling,” Ellas said.
Within a day, the fundraiser gained more than $16,000 and counting.
"I'll bet you half the people that donated money really don't have the money to donate but when you lose everything, you're better off than the guy before you,” Ellas said.
Rick and his fundraising partner, Wendy Poston, are making sure to get that money to the Millers as fast as it’s coming in.
Justin and Danielle said they’re in disbelief.
"More grateful this morning than I've been in a very long time, even though we lost everything,” Justin said.
Justin said he was at home with his 3-year-old son, Cylas, when the fire started.
"While I was working, he went from the den to the kitchen in the house and he started yelling to me that there was a fire… I'm still shocked that he was able to identify and just very alertly tell me, like he knew and he kept yelling to make sure that I came in… and it's just incredible,” Justin said.
Danielle said when she got the call from Justin, she didn’t believe it was real, until she saw it for herself.
"I couldn't look away. I watched every second of it ‘cause I was just in disbelief. The whole drive there I was like no this can't be real,” Danielle said.
Justin is well known in the community as Liberty Union High School’s Varsity Baseball Coach. He said he’s been blown away by the support of his baseball community, both past and present. As soon as they heard about the fire, several of them rushed over to help.
"It was always my job to be the leader in charge and try not to show emotion but when those guys show up yesterday I just couldn't control it… never in a million years did I think we would have this kind of support for something like this so it's just really humbling,” Justin said.
"People say oh everybody knows your business in a small town. Well, it's a good thing they do know your business cause if it's bad, people are there to help,” Ellas said.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office told 10TV the State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
If you’d like to support the GoFundMe, click here.