Fire That Gutted Long Valley Home Deemed Accidental

A fire that gutted a two-story Colonial home on Nestlingwood Drive in Long Valley Tuesday night has been deemed accidental, according to Washington Township Police. 

The ignition source of the blaze may have been a candle, Lt. Mark Niemynski told Patch, but at this time the cause is undetermined and the manner is accidental.

The multi-alarm fire required all three fire companies from Washington Township to quell the blaze, which was first reported at 8:38 p.m. No one in the home or any first responders were injured as a result of the fire.

Once word spread that the Mergen family had been displaced from their home with nothing except the clothes they were wearing, Long Valley, as a community rallied around their neighbors in an extraordinary way.

A GoFundMe web page set up by the Mergen’s family friend initially sought $2,500 to get the family back on its feet. That goal was doubled just an hour later on Wednesday morning when the funds began pouring in.

As of Friday afternoon, more than $22,000 has been donated, anonymously or otherwise, a garage has been filled with donations for the family and local businesses have offered drop-off locations, donation jars and free goods in exchange for aid to the family.

Learn more about ways to help here.