A boarded up window shows some of the damage caused by a fire Friday at the home behind Macri Floral Shop in Mars. The home's occupants, the Macri family, are staying with friends.

MARS — Evidence on Tuesday of the fire at the house fronted by the Macri Floral Shop included a “Keep Out” sign on the shop door and a fire investigator inspecting and photographing the building.

The fire broke out about 5:30 p.m. Friday as the Michael Macri family began frying food on the stove for dinner. It caught the wall and ceiling on fire, said Adams Area Fire District Chief Bill Hayes.

The smoke and flames were able to shoot up the walls from the basement kitchen, causing damage to the basement and attic.

Macri, his wife, and their four children were able to escape.

On Tuesday, several people entered and exited a brick home next to the burned building on Grand Avenue, which is Mars' main street. The Macri family is staying with friends there for the time being.

Two badly singed teen Bibles were on the porch outside the brick home.

Macri said he bought the house in 1989 and opened the floral shop in 1991.

“I'm overwhelmed at how the community has pulled together for my family,” Macri said. “I've been there for 23 years and I've helped people, and it's amazing how it comes back to you when something like this happens.”

He said the shop's entire interior will need to be gutted and rebuilt, and all the seemingly unharmed items in the storefront have been heavily damaged by smoke.

Second- and third-floor windows were boarded up, and fire damage was apparent above a basement window and at the peak of the roof. A small area of the roof also was covered with white plastic.

Macri said he is looking into opening up in another building on Grand Avenue, but he will not have a plan in place for a few weeks.

Hayes estimated the damages to the insured building at about $200,000.

Henry Barron, a senior at Mars High School and friend of the Macri's eldest daughter, has set up a fund at the Mars National Bank to help the Macri family with basic items such as clothing and toiletries. Donations can be sent to or dropped off at any Mars Bank branch.

Parents of Mars students also can buy gift cards for the Macris and send them to school with their students. The gift cards will be taken to each building's principal's office and then given to the Macris.

A clothing donation box for the four Macri children has been set up at the Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Church in Middlesex Township. Clothing sizes and other information about donating can be found at www.facebook.com/macrifund.