Fire Breaks Out From Chicken Coop Outside Mendham Home: Officials

MENDHAM, NJ — A fire broke out at a Mendham Township home this past weekend, causing damage, according to Mendham police.

The fire was reported on Lake Drive in the Woodland Lakes section of Mendham Township just before noon on Saturday, officials said.

Upon arrival, first responders and police officers Joseph Wilce and Sean Rice found a fully engulfed chicken coop, with the fire rapidly spreading to an adjacent residence, police said.

Members of the township police department worked to contain the fire and cleared the residence to ensure no one was inside before assisting the fire department, which arrived shortly after.

However, the fire spread to the adjacent home, and when members of the Brookside Engine Company arrived on the scene, they found an active structure fire affecting the roof.

Members of the Mendham Township Fire Department, along with mutual aid companies, had the fire under control within an hour by conducting an aggressive interior fire attack, officials said.

No injuries were reported. Investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing.

A GoFundMe campaign for the family has raised over $12,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.

"The Guerreros lost everything in a devastating house fire. Thankfully, they made it out safely, but their home and all their belongings are gone. This family, who has always opened their doors to others, now finds themselves without one," wrote fundraiser organizer Evonne Vanleeuwen.

Every dollar raised will go toward helping the Guerrero family get back on their feet, covering immediate essentials, temporary housing and the process of rebuilding their home.

To learn more or donate, click here.