Family Seeks Aid For Brick Couple Who Lost Home To Fire

(Bill and Claire Jones, with Bill’s brother, Tom, on the right. Photo courtesy of Whitney Jones)

Family members of a Brick Township couple who lost their home and all their possessions in a fire this week have set up a GoFundme campaign to help them get back on their feet.

Claire and Bill Jones escaped serious injury and their pets were rescued as well when their home on Pinehurst Road caught fire early Tuesday morning.

“A fire consumed everything they had: their house, their possessions, their clothing, even their identification,” their niece, Whitney Jones, writes on the GoFundme site she created. ”With the sound of smoke alarms, help from their heroic neighbor and the grace of God, they were able to get out alive.”

So far, friends have donated nearly $10,000 in the first day to help the couple.

An update posted Friday morning to the site from Claire’s brother, Joe, says “They had pretty good insurance and so far good news from their agent. It seems like things are getting under some kind of control as best as can be expected under the circumstances. Claire and Bill now have a place to live long term with a dear friend who has ample space even for the possibility of a long haul like 9 months to a year.” It goes on to express the couple’s gratitude for the outpouring of support so far.

Because they are living with a friend, he said the couple “want to live as simply as possible at the moment. They don’t want anybody to have to ship clothes or any other items to them.”

Those who wish to donate to help the couple can click here to go to the GoFundme site.