First Responders Rally To Aid Beachwood Family After Fire

BEACHWOOD, NJ — The Beachwood first-responder community is rallying to help a local registered nurse and her family after the family's home was destroyed by fire on Tuesday.

Jessica Armstrong, who is an emergency room nurse at Community Medical Center, her huband, Patrick, and their young son escaped Tuesday's fire at their Halliard Avenue home without injury, according to officials.

According to the Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company, the fire set off smoke detectors about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and arriving firefighters, led by Chief Roger Hull and Assistant Chief Dennis Allen, found the exterior electrical meter arcing and on fire, as well as smoke throughout the first floor of the home.

A significant fire was found in the basement that had quickly progressed to the first floor, the department said on Facebook. The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes with the assistance of the Pine Beach Fire Department and a FAST team from the Pinewald Fire Department, the post said.

The Armstrongs had safely evacuated when firefighters arrived, but two of their pets perished in the fire, the report said.

Since the fire, the fire department, the Beachwood First Aid Squad and others have been pulling together to raise money for the family and gather items to help them in the short-term while their home is being rebuilt.

"Not only is the Armstrong family members of our Beachwood community, they are family to a Toms River Vol. Fire Co. No. 1 firefighter," the first aid squad said in sharing a GoFundme campaign that was started to help the family. In less than 48 hours the campaign has raised nearly $7,300.

The first aid squad also is accepting checks for the family: "please feel free to write a check to the Armstrong family and place it in our mailbox at the first aid building and we will get the donations to them directly," the squad said on Facebook.

The family's home will have to be completely rebuilt, the squad said.

In the short term, the squad and fire department are accepting clothing donations for the family and is requesting new toys for their son, who is a toddler.

Clothing sizes needed are:

Mom: 10/12 pants; large tops

Dad: 36 waist/ large shirts

Son: 3T

Donations of toys and other items will be accepted at Beachwood Community Day at Birch & Surf Park from noon to 5 p.m., the squad said.

"For one that is always helping those in need, let's give them the same and give as much as we can back," the squad said.

The fire is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and Beachwood Bureau of Fire Prevention. Assisting at the scene were the Beachwood First Aid Squad, the South Toms River First Aid Squad, Beachwood Police Department, the Red Cross and Jersey Central Power and Light, the fire company said.

Photo: Fire destroys Halliard Avenue home, via Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page