An effort is now underway in Bridgeport to help a family who lost everything after fire destroyed their home on Wednesday.

Milagros Marrero said she and her family are heartbroken after a fire ripped through their apartment early Wednesday morning.

"I'm glad we are alive, but in a matter of minutes we just lost everything," said 29-year-old Marrero.

The Derby Fire Department took video at 5 Mason St. around 2 a.m. that shows the fire destroying the rear part of the home.

It was a raging house fire that turned into a horrifying ordeal for the family. They were going about their lives bound together by a simple routine of work, school and church when virtually everything they owed went up in flames.

"I immediately woke everyone up and we ran out," Marrero recalled.

"She's like, 'we gotta go! we gotta go!' So I followed her to the kitchen and we looked at the back door and there's a bright glow just coming from the door," recounted 33-year-old Israel Martin, Marrero's boyfriend.

Marrero and Martin said they need to rebuild their lives from scratch after losing everything.

"We're not like the type of people to go, you know, ask for any help," Martin said.

This is why friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with the effort.

The family said they are counting their blessings while they stay at a hotel in Shelton.

"I am truly grateful that we all made it out," Martin said.

They said one member of their family is still unaccounted for: They said their tuxedo cat "Cujo" fled the during the fire and now need the public's help in getting him back.

"To be in this type of situation is very hard for us," Martin said.

They added that the fire was a learning this experience, one to be stronger for.

"We noticed that all we ever needed was each other and that's basically what we're thankful for," Martin said.