Neighbors Reach Out When New Year's Eve Fire Destroys Lutz Home

LUTZ, FL -- It was an inauspicious beginning of the New Year for Lutz residents Stephen and Maggi Dorsett.

The couple was spending a leisurely New Year's Eve sitting on their back porch when they smelled smoke. Their teen daughter, Becca, was on the porch with them but their son, Austin, was inside the house. Stephen Dorsett rushed in check on him only to be greeted by a wall of flames.

By the time the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews arrived at 10:28 p.m., the house on Aqua Springs Drive in the Heritage Harbor subdivision was completely engulfed. According to fire rescue authorities, the fire started in the garage attic and caused major damage to the garage, the cars inside, the roof and the interior of the home.

The Christmas tree remained standing in the fire-ravaged living room, a reminder of the happy family moments just a few days before the fire.

Fortunately, the entire family, including the dog, made it out of the home safely.

Now their neighbors are pitching in to help the family, which lost nearly all of their possessions to fire, smoke and water damage.

"Their children, Austin and Becca and their dog are all OK, but they’ve lost everything," said neighbor Bob Campbell.

As soon as the smoke had cleared on New Year's Day, neighbors came together to help the family salvage whatever they could from the burned-out house. They also donated food and clothing for the family but Campbell said that barely covers their losses.

The Red Cross is assisting the family. In the meantime, Campbell has established a GoFundMe account for anyone who wants to help out.

The Dorsetts say they've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. In just 21 hours, the account has raised $11,650 of its $25,000 goal.

Images via John Gass and Bob Campbell

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