Somerville Family Lost Everything In Christmas Day Fire

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A Somerville’s family hopes of enjoying a peaceful Christmas morning went up in smoke, literally, when their home caught on fire.

The family of six rushed out of the home Christmas morning to get to church on time for service. They left so quickly, they didn’t even have a chance to open their gifts yet.

While at church the family got a call around noon that their home on Fairview Avenue in Somerville was on fire.

“Any day is a bad day for your house to burn down but to have it happen specifically on Christmas is horrible,” a friend of the family, Mariana Velasco told Patch. “When they were rushing out to church, their son asked about the presents and the mom said they would open them when they got home from church. But there were no presents to come back to. They lost all the gifts. Literally they are out of everything.”

Velasco's parents have been close friends with the family in Somerville, who wish to remain anonymous, for about eight years. They already spend most holidays with them.

When the fire broke out on Christmas Day, the Velasco's took in the family.

Fire, smoke and water damage has deemed the home uninhabitable. The family expects to be out of the home for at least three months.

All the family had was the clothes on their back. Now they are able to live in a hotel and trying to get any of the basic needs.

The family consists of two parents, and three children - a 6 year old boy and 10 year old and 14 year old girls, and a grandmother. The father works for a landscaping business which is currently in its off-season.

To help the family with anything they need. Velasco and her sister set up a gofundme website to help raise money. She is also collecting any donations such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, food, school supplies, and more.

“Whatever they think they will need I will collect,” Velasco said. “They are going to need help in every aspect.”

To make a monetary donation visit the gofundme site at https://www.gofundme.com/qh-christmas-day-house-fire. Or contact Mariana Velasco at 908-255-2716 as she will be collecting all other donations for the family.

(Image via Morguefile)

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