Fundraising effort underway for Springdale father and son left homeless after house fire

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help a Springdale family recover from a house fire.

Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the two-alarm blaze around 2:30 p.m. Friday in the 300 block of Orchard Street.

Robert Collier and his son, Kendall, lost a lot to the flames including their cat, Silvy. No people were injured.

A fundraising effort was launched shortly afterward, and it has reached nearly half of its $5,000 goal as of Tuesday.

“We’re getting support,” Kendall Collier said. “The community’s coming together and helping us. It’s really crazy how much people are actually helping. It’s unexpected.”

The family is staying at a hotel in Harmar for the time being. The Red Cross assisted with shelter and some items over the weekend, and the family’s insurance company is in the process of finding a temporary home.

Collier said they eventually hope to repair their Orchard Street house and move back in. The damage assessment has not been completed.

“It’s still a process,” Collier said. “We’re not 100% together and a little in denial, but we’re trying. We’re going to push through.”

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and ruled the incident accidental Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire was related to a power cord.

The son said it started in a computer room on the second floor.