Relatives of a boy who died trying to save his family from a fire are reportedly fighting over money donated in his memory.

Tyler Doohan (8) has been hailed as a hero after he saved six relatives from a fire in Rochester New York, but died trying to rescue two more.

A fundraising page set up on YouCaring.com has raised more than $50,000 (€36,516) - well beyond the expectations of the organiser, a neighbour.

"Please support the family and raise money to Give this baby the Service he deserve" reads the fundraising appeal, which had set itself the goal of making $5,000 (€ 3,651)

Tyler's mother, Crystal Vrooman, told Foxnews.com "My son just got lost in a huge tragedy. Do you think I want to move into a trailer? I want a nice house as I have always been telling the kids, and to give my kids a great school district".

Ms. Vrooman is listed as the beneficiary of the YouCaring account. But Tyler's father, now estranged from Ms. Vrooman, says he does not trust the woman to do the right thing.

"My actual fear is that she is not going to use the money properly" Jason Doohan was quoted as saying.

"My son is the greatest kid I've ever known," he said, urging Ms. Vrooman to use the money "on what Tyler would want it to be spent on".

Tyler was spending the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with his grandfather and other relatives when the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning, spreading quickly through the trailer as the family were asleep.

Tyler managed to wake six people up, then went back to try to rescue his disabled uncle and grandfather, but all three died in the burning home.

Another relative, Joseph Breyette, claimed Ms. Vrooman had substance-abuse problems, Fox reported, though she says she solved her problems "years ago".

Mr. Breyette said "My biggest concern is that the money is going to be mismanaged and the people who went through the tragedy are going to be forgotten. I would prefer that someone court-appointed, not her, should have control of that money".