Charlestown Couple W Baby On Way Lose Home In Fire, Folks Rally

CHARLESTOWN, MA — It's a homeowner's worst nightmare: After a fire ripped through a marina earlier this month, owners of three boats were without their homes. But one couple, expecting a baby in about two months, took to GoFundMe. It was an effort to help get the money to get them back on their feet and a place to live before their baby comes.

"We just lost our boat home in a fire. We are asking for help to rebuild," Katy Harrison wrote.

Two days after launching the online fundraiser, some 162 people — some strangers, some co-workers some family and friends — have donated more than $22,000 to help them.

They are nearly halfway to their goal of $45,000 as of Saturday afternoon.

What happened:

Harrison and her fiance Will Leon were asleep on their boat the Chickadee, when a neighbor knocked to let them know there was a fire at the marina where they lived. They looked outside to see the boat next door was on fire. The two bolted out of bed and off their boat without time to even grab their shoes.

Leon did manage to grab a fire extinguisher, and he fought the flames back, but the boat was completely engulfed within minutes. It was one of three boats that went up in flames Jan. 8, at the Constitution Marina. In total fire department officials estimated $1 million in damage, but no one was hurt.

"We lost everything," said Katy, who is seven months pregnant.

The two are slowly starting the process of rebuilding.

"We had an outpouring of support from friends and neighbors; folks have donated toiletries, maternity clothing and other basics to get us started We are asking for donations to help us rebuild. We have only 6 weeks until baby is due, and want to give her a good start, but with our home and things destroyed in the fire, that is hard to imagine," she said.

The two are raising funds to cover the costs of their lost home and possessions, including temporary accommodations. Here's how to donate: We Lost Everything.

RELATED:

• 2 Boats Sink, 1 Damaged After Marina Fire In Charlestown

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Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).

Photos via GoFundMe