A Niles Middle School Teacher and her family are picking up the pieces after a blaze completely engulfed their home last night in Weathersfield.

Christine Walters has been a teacher for more than 30 years in the Niles City School District.

While her family made it out of the fire safely, their cats Pete and Marvin did not survive.

Now, a GoFundMe has been launched to help them pick up the pieces and begin their lives anew.

The goal was to raise $10,000 to help the family, at the time of reporting the fundraiser brought in more than $16,000.

21 News was on scene and witnessed massive flames reaching high above the tree line, scorching the nearby homes.

Crews say the home and a car inside its garage was a total loss.

You can contribute to the GoFundMe here.