Fundraiser Will Help Howell Family Displaced From Home By Fire

HOWELL, NJ —A Howell family could really use some help after a dryer fire spread in their home and made it uninhabitable.

According to a Ramtown Fire Co. post, it and Squankum Fire Company were simultaneously dispatched to a report of an appliance on fire at the house of Easy Street on Jan. 21.

Flames were visible from a side window and heavy smoke was coming from the front door.

One resident of the home reported nobody was inside, and officials confirmed no one was injured. The call was upgraded to a working structure fire and a box alarm was dispatched.

Andrea Flores, a daughter of the family and a Brookdale Community College student, explained the aftermath of the fire in a GoFundMe post:

"On Jan. 21, at around 6:20 p.m., our family home experienced a house fire caused by a dryer. Our kitchen is completely gone and so is our dining area and part of our living room.

"Fortunately it was only these parts that were burnt but everything else is affected by smoke damage. Our clothes are unwearable and all of our belongings are of no use," she said.

She said the family includes her father, who works for Puglisi Egg Farms, her mom and two siblings, Middle School South students. Most of their clothes were burnt in the dryer.

Their pet dogs, Muñeca and Toby, also need food and toys and beds.

"As of now, we are currently displaced, staying with family in the meantime as we find a new home. We’ve lived in this house for about seven years and it was an absolutely devastating sight to see as a place filled with so much memories can suddenly be gone in one night," the post said.

She said the family is grateful they are safe, and grateful for the help they have been given.

Many donations have come in but the family is still far from its modest goal, and they have many needs facing them.

You can click here and donate by going to this site.

Ramtown said the fire, after it was upgraded, also brought in an additional Engine and Ladder from the Southard Fire Department, a RIT team from South Wall Fire Rescue, and Herbertsville Fire Company and Lauralton Fire Company for a cover assignment.

Because there are no hydrants on Easy Street, an additional tanker from Adelphia Fire Company was requested.

Crews from all companies arrived quickly, extinguished the fire and conducted a search for victims. The searches confirmed nobody else was inside and no injuries were reported.

All crews were clear from the scene at about 9:40 p.m. and the scene was turned over to the Howell Township Fire Bureau to conduct an investigation, the Ramtown information said.