Community Raises Over $100K for N.J. Police Officer After Devastating House Fire
What to know
- A Rahway police officer, his nurse wife, their 10-month-old daughter and family dog narrowly escaped a fast-moving house fire that destroyed their Howell Township home Saturday afternoon.
- The fire spread quickly from the back deck into the two-story home, collapsing the roof and rendering the residence uninhabitable, according to police.
- Community members have raised nearly $100,000 and donated essential items after the family lost nearly everything in the fire.
Rahway Police officer and his wife, who is a nurse, expressed gratitude Monday for the outpouring of support they’ve received since their home burned down on Saturday.
Sean Twerdak and Jessie Twerdak, their 10-month-old daughter Abigail and their Golden Retriever Charlie narrowly escaped a fast-moving fire that ravaged their Howell home.
Howell Township Police responded to the Dutch Valley Road home at about 1:53 p.m. and saw black smoke and swirling flames coming from the back of the two-story bi-level, according to a press release from Howell Township police.
The young family lost everything but the community has shown immense support with nearly $100,000 raised in less than two days through a GoFundMe and countless items being donated including a car seat, clothing and other essentials. (Editor's note: As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign had raised over $100,000.)
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and generosity we’ve received following this unimaginable loss,” the couple said through a family spokesperson. “As new parents to our ten-month-old, navigating something like this has brought an added layer of challenge, and we have felt so deeply supported and carried by all of you during this time.
“While there is still so much to process and navigate, we truly cannot thank you all enough for the way you have shown up for us,” they continued. “Everyone’s kindness has meant more than we can put into words — it has brought us comfort, strength, and a sense of community when we’ve needed it most. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing by us.”
Saturday started out as a normal spring day for the couple. Jessie, a nurse at Penn Medicine Princeton, ran errands with the couple’s daughter. And Sean attended a memorial service as a member of the Rahway Police Department’s Honor Guard.
The family planned to leave for vacation Sunday.
They all arrived home at about 1 p.m. As Sean and Jessie spoke in the kitchen of their split-level home, they noticed smoke out a back window that appeared to be coming from their deck. Sean grabbed a fire extinguisher and went out back while Jessie grabbed Abigail and went downstairs to get their dog, Charlie.
When she got to the lower level of the home, Jessie looked out their sliding glass doors and saw flames rolling under the deck pushing toward the home, the family spokesman said.
She exited out the front of the home and met up with Sean who was already on the phone with 911. As they waited for first responders, the flames spread from the deck into the house.
The fire collapsed the roof making the home uninhabitable. It’s cause is still under investigation by the Howell Township Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal.
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