The Highlands community is rallying to support two Tarentum families whose homes were destroyed by fire on Monday.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the Lott family had exceeded its $10,000 goal by Tuesday afternoon.

The fire is believed to have started in the Lott family’s home in the 200 block of Lock Street and spread to Danielle Taylor’s neighboring home.

Tiffany Lott said she and her family — including her husband, Tim; children David, 8, and Eli, 18 months; and father, Barry Rothwell — stayed at a friend’s Harrison home Monday night.

Their pets, two dogs and a cat, were unaccounted for and presumed lost.

“We’re getting calls left and right. We can’t thank the community enough for what they’re doing for us,” Tiffany Lott said. “I hope that they’re supporting Danielle as much as they’re supporting us. She needs help, too.”

A separate GoFundMe effort was launched to help Taylor and her family. It had raised just over $2,000 toward a $10,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.

Taylor could not be reached immediately for comment.

An effort to help the Lott family with food by providing dinners was started on Meal Train. As of Tuesday afternoon, volunteers had agreed to provide meals from Tuesday through March 13, with an opening on March 11.

Among other efforts, Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church will be organizing a donation drive to help both families. Jennifer Rigatti, an employee and member of the church, said she would be reaching out to other organizations and churches in the area to see if they want to participate.

Natrona Heights Presbyterian planned to accept donations through 2 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday. To drop off items at other times, call the church at 724-224-7338 or contact Rigatti by email at nhpcsecretary@aol.com.

Rigatti said the Rams Youth Football Organization, known as “RYFO,” was hosting a collection effort for the Lott family at First United Presbyterian Church in Tarentum Tuesday and Wednesday.

The food bank at the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches will be reaching out to both families, she said.

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania said it was providing assistance to both families.

Tiffany Lott said she was waiting to hear from her insurance company.

She didn’t know if her family would be able to salvage anything from what remains of their home. She said she was most concerned about the ashes of her mother and grandmother, and a dog that had been euthanized and cremated just last month.

“That’s definitely to me the most devastating loss,” she said.

The fire was reported about 1:45 p.m. No one was in the Lott home at the time.

According to borough code enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni, a man was in Taylor’s home at the time of the fire.

“He was asleep when the fire broke out, and several police officers and myself had to assist him and several of the dogs out of the house before the fire spread,” Bruni said, adding that the dogs included several puppies that appeared to have been born recently.

Firefighters cleared the scene shortly after 7 p.m., Eureka Deputy Chief Brad James said.

Tiffany Lott said she was at the fire scene until 7 or 7:30 p.m.

“The shock is still there,” she said. “The biggest thing is that my family is safe. Unfortunately, we lost our animals, but my children are safe, my father and my husband are safe.”

The fire was determined to have been accidental and “related to the kitchen stovetop,” said Matt Brown, chief of Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services. A pot of food was found on a burner that was in the “on” position.

Damage was estimated at more than $200,000.

Volunteer firefighters from all three Tarentum departments, all three Harrison companies and Brackenridge were at the scene, James said.

Brown said two firefighters were hurt. James said one firefighter had a hand injury, and another with a medical emergency was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, treated and released.

Bruni said because the Lott family had insurance, their insurance company most likely will handle the demolition of that building.

Bruni said it is likely the borough will have to demolish the Taylor family’s house because they did not have insurance.

The borough recently awarded three contracts to three demolition companies to tear down abandoned and blighted properties.

“We will ask our demolition contractors to give us estimates,” Bruni said. “They are hoping to have their equipment in town later this month if the weather is not an obstacle. We will work on demolition as soon as possible.”

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