BATH COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A local family is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating house fire that destroyed their home on Wednesday, leaving them in search of a permanent place to stay. Brian Thomas, returned home to find his house engulfed in flames, prompting a desperate scramble to save his pets before calling for help. “Just see the flames, they were just kind of in the window,” said Thomas. “So I came out called the fire department, they were pretty fast acting, they got here in about 10 minutes, and in that time, it completely engulfed the house,” he said. Thomas said he’s still awaiting answers about the fire’s cause. The fire has left his family, displaced and facing significant challenges. “It’s been tough on us, right now we’re staying at the Comfort In in Mount Sterling, we got a room until Sunday, and then kind of just couch hoping at that point, between family and friends until we can get something figured out,” said Thomas. Thomas recently changed jobs, adding financial strain during this difficult time. While the Red Cross has provided temporary housing assistance, the need for a more permanent solution is urgent. To aid in their recovery, a close friend has set up a GoFundMe campaign. The effort has raised nearly $2,000 so far, with a goal of $5,000 to help cover immediate expenses. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: bath county, community support, emergency assistance, family, fire, gofundme, housing, Kentucky, local news, red cross