Rockaway Township family lost their home and puppy in weekend fire. Here's how to help
The Lake Telemark neighborhood is rallying to help a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter after they lost their home and possessions in a raging fire Saturday night in Rockaway Township.
No one was injured in the fire, which was reported about 10 p.m. But a family puppy did not survive the blaze, despite a response from firefighters in several towns. Two other dogs escaped what the Rockaway Township Fire Department described as a kitchen fire.
Jennifer Gares, her daughter and a 2-year-old granddaughter are staying in temporary housing after the fire consumed their home and belongings, according to neighbor and former township councilman Tucker Kelley, who witnessed the emergency response.
The family was not home, but at least one adult was staying there at the time and was able to escape, he said.
"Jen and I have been friends for a while," Kelley said. "I heard the sirens and went outside. It took a while to put it out. There were still hotspots the next day. The home is a total loss. They lost everything."
Township responders to the two-alarm call included companies from White Meadow Lake, Green Pond, Birchwood and Mount Hope. Other departments assisting came from Boonton Township, Jefferson, Denville, Picatinny Arsenal, Kinnelon and Rockaway borough.
Gofundme, church donations set up to help family
Kelley quickly took to social media, creating a Gofundme page for the family that exceeded its $10,000 goal by Monday morning. A local collection point for donations also was set up in the lobby of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 508 Green Pond Road.
"At this time, we are collecting clothes, diapers, checks and gift cards," Kelley said.
The granddaughter is a size 4T or a 4-5, the daughter and Mother are both XL for shirts and leggings, and size 14 for jeans and pants. Undergarments and socks also are needed (new preferred).
"We have had devastating tragedies in our community over the years and when the request for help was circulated, Jennifer Gares always donated in many ways," Kelley said. "Now it's our turn to help Jenn and her family."
The Lake Telemark community suffered another tragedy last April when 98-year-old Oddfrid Tokle died in a fire at her home. Tokle had escaped her native Norway ahead of Nazi occupation in 1939 to become a pillar of a growing group of Norwegian immigrants who built homes together around the lake.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter: @wwesthoven
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Rockaway Township NJ family lost home, puppy in weekend fire
