The charred remains of two homes stand along Grant Avenue in Martins Ferry on Tuesday after an early morning fire destroyed them and damaged a third house. T-L Photo/JOE LOVELL

MARTINS FERRY — Family members and friends of those affected by a Martins Ferry fire that damaged houses last week are raising money to help the families financially after the loss of their homes.

The fire that broke out early Tuesday left two of the houses as total losses and displaced two families from their homes.

Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene around 2 a.m. to find three neighboring houses on fire. The homes were located at 517, 515 and 519 Grant Ave. The fire started at 517 Grant Ave., which was between the other two and vacant at the time, according to Fire Chief II Justin Smith.

The cause of the fire is unknown but under investigation.

Although both families got out safely, they are facing the future with their homes destroyed.

Fundraising accounts for each family have been created at GoFundMe.com. Those affected are Hannah Conner, her fiance and two children and Dawn Hathaway.

Eric Conner started the GoFundMe for his sister Hannah. He wrote that Hannah, her fiance Brian and the two children woke up to an experience nobody wants to go through – a fire had started at a neighboring house and spread to their own.

Eric Connor asks people who are financially able to donate to the GoFundMe account titled “Assist Hannah’s Family After Fire Disaster.”

He wrote that all the proceeds will go toward getting their lives back to a “somewhat normal stage.”

As of Friday evening, the fundraising effort had collected $2,035 of its $5,000 goal.

Hannah said that donating to the GoFundMe would help her family because they have been displaced from their home. She said with her and fiance having two children, daily expenses are adding up fast.

“This situation obviously makes us all very upset,” she said. “This was the first home we have purchased and was the building block to the family we have together. Unfortunately, our children are struggling with coping with all of the changes and are still waking up throughout the nights distraught from dreams.”

Hannah added that her family truly appreciates the support they have received from the community, and anyone wishing to donate can do so through at gofundme.com/f/assist-hannahs-family-after-fire-disaster?cdn-cache=0.

The other person affected by the fires is Hathaway. A group of friends of Hathaway started the account titled “Dawn’s Home Lost in Fire: Your Help Needed” to help her start over and was organized by Shellie Higgins. The page states the fire started in a neighboring house, spread to hers and, as a result, Hathaway lost everything.

“Although some sentimental items were lost and cannot be replaced, we are hoping to help Dawn start over with this fundraiser,” Higgins wrote on the page.

She added that every donation helps and is greatly appreciated. As of Friday evening, it had raised $1,240 of its $2,200 goal.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at gofundme.com/f/dawns-home-lost-in-fire-your-help-needed?cdn-cache=0.