A Chattooga County family is starting over after a fire destroyed their Lyerly home Sunday night, leaving them with only the clothes they were wearing when they escaped.

Jessica Smith and her boyfriend, Marcus Wedgeworth, were at home around 10 p.m. when Smith noticed something was wrong. She said she smelled something unusual and heard a clicking noise coming from the electrical breaker box.

After cutting off the breaker, Smith walked toward the kitchen and saw flames.

She described the scene as a wall of red, saying the entire kitchen area was already on fire. Everyone inside the home was able to get out safely.

While no one was injured, the fire destroyed nearly all of the family’s belongings, including clothing, debit cards, important documents, and items Smith had recently purchased for her son’s upcoming 10th birthday party.

Smith said the loss is especially difficult because this is the second house fire she has survived. Her two children, ages 6 and 9, were spending the night away from home when the fire broke out. Smith said she is thankful they were not there, especially since the fire started on their side of the house.

Kevin Smith, Jessica’s father, said the family had spent weeks preparing for the birthday celebration, buying presents, decorations, a trampoline, sandbox, and other items that are now gone.

Relatives have established a fundraiser to help the family rebuild, and community members have already begun reaching out with offers of support.

Jessica Smith said any assistance would be appreciated as the family begins the process of starting over.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.