Bloomfield Family Loses Home, Pet Dog To Christmas Fire

A Bloomfield family lost their home and pet dog in a fire on Christmas Day, authorities stated.

Emergency responders arrived at the fire around 1:30 p.m., which took place on Rutgers Place, NorthJersey.com reported.

The dog was trapped inside the home, which had filled with thick, black smoke, NorthJersey.com reported.

The family was uninjured in the blaze but the dog perished, authorities stated.

A neighbor of the family affected by the fire has started an online GoFundMe campaign to aid the recovery effort, which can be seen here.

The neighbor wrote:

“I write this with a very heavy heart on Christmas day… We were shocked to hear and see the Bloomfield Fire Department rushing down our quiet Rutgers Place to our neighbors house which was filling with thick black smoke. The nice family [was] celebrating Christmas Mass while their house was on fire. Their Polish-speaking grandmother was able to get out alive but the family dog was trapped inside and overcome with smoke inhalation. My neighbors tried relentlessly to enter the house to save the barking dog but were themselves surrounded by thick black smoke and heat. Not only did this beautiful family lose their entire house, but their family pet on Christmas Day. The Bloomfield FD did an awesome job and were very empathetic to family when they arrived at the scene. It was heart wrenching to witness and I feel we, as a community, can somehow reach out to help this family in need during this difficult time… All monies collected will go directly to the family to help them with relocation while their house is uninhabitable.”

See the online campaign here.