A fire destroyed a home in Onchiota on Tuesday night. A GofundMe for the family has raised more than $20,000 so far. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

ONCHIOTA — A family lost everything they owned in a major fire on Tuesday night, two days before Christmas.

“We lost everything,” Heather Moynihan said. “Our whole Christmas was in that house.”

Her son and nephew, ages 13 and 14, were in the house when the fire started and she’s just glad they’re safe, but it is still heartbreaking, she said.

“They’re waking up tomorrow to nothing,” Moynihan said. “We’re pretty devastated right now.”

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family by Moynihan’s daughter Jenna Roy at tinyurl.com/2k65vkx2. Roy says the money raised will be used for temporary housing, living expenses, clothing, food, long-term rebuilding and replacing household essentials.

“This home wasn’t just a building. It was where my mom raised her family, where holidays were celebrated and where my brothers felt safe,” Roy said. “Losing it in an instant has been devastating.”

Moynihan said the emotional toll has been overwhelming, both of the loss and of the community’s support. She thanked everyone who has helped.

The GoFundMe had raised more than $20,000 by 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

“The support from the community is amazing,” Moynihan said. “It’s amazing to me how quickly a community can come together.”

She sees GoFundMe campaigns all the time and donates what she can, but never realized how helpful they can be for people suffering loss.

The home, owned by Eileen Orme, is on Camp Road — off of Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road and on a bay of Oregon Pond.

Moynihan said her nephew saw flames in the front porch, grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put out the fire. But it was too big already. They opened the doors so the animals could get out and ran to the neighbors to call 911.

Their dog, Percy, a Golden Retriever, got out safely with minor burns on his feet. The family is still hoping the cats got out. One is white with orange spots and the other is a “big fat orange one.” Their bunny did not survive.

Moynihan said the kids are shaken up and they’re all in shock.

She said Saranac Lake High School Principal Josh Dann got a thrift store to open so they could get clothes for the next few weeks.

A friend of Roy’s is putting the family up in a local vacation rental through January. Moynihan said they’ll need to find permanent housing that accepts a dog. Percy is a Golden Retriever.

They’ll need to refurnish their home from scratch.

Moynihan lost her glasses and contacts in the fire. This is a hard time of year to get replacements, she said, with most places being closed for the holidays.

She also said she’s in desperate need for computers — 90% of school homework is on computers now and she works partially from home.

She thinks the fire may have been electrical. It started on the enclosed porch, which had two lamps.

Moynihan said she did not have renter’s insurance, which she regrets.

“I’d urge anybody who rents to get renter’s insurance,” she said.

Volunteers from the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid, including financial assistance, emotional support and comfort kits containing personal care items.

“In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery,” a press release from the organization said.

A friend of a friend is taking in their chickens.

Moynihan said they have family, friends and community.

“We’re going to make it through,” she said.