Neighbors raise thousands for Bogota family after house struck by lightning

A Bogota family lost everything when their house was struck by lightning and caught fire on Friday.

In the aftermath, neighbors have rallied to help raise thousands of dollars to support the family.

A GoFundMe started by Tamara Bernard Ruiz raised more than $14,000 for the Martinez family as of Tuesday afternoon.

"Everyone’s just been amazing," Ruiz said. "As soon as I spearheaded the donations people were in my inbox already asking what they could bring."

Ruiz is a neighbor of the Martinez family. She recalled on Friday how she and her husband saw lightning close by but assumed no damage was done. Then they heard the sirens and saw the lights on the first responders' vehicles.

"I just kind of stood there in shock and awe watching," she said, "and I knew right away that this community would help … and be there for her."

Ruiz also credited the work of firefighters from Bogota, Teaneck, Hackensack and Ridgefield Park, and Bogota police for a quick response to the fire.

While she does not know them well, Ruiz said the Martinez family included three people who lived at the Walnut Avenue home. The homeowner is a mother and "super strong and very, very touched and humbled by the outreach that she’s received from her community," Ruiz said.

Ruiz said her front porch and foyer are all full of physical donations in addition to the GoFundMe.

"It was a devastating occurrence," she said. "But you see a lot of good in people when these things happen."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bogota NJ house struck by lightning, GoFundMe started