Westfield Family Shares Harrowing Details Of Fire That Killed Brother

WESTFIELD, NJ — It was 3 a.m. when Sam Tooley woke up to smoke in his Prospect Street home on Monday morning.

"I heard my dog barking. My mom screaming. My room was a sutty cloud. I could hear plates smashing downstairs," Sam recalled in a conversation with Patch.

"I jumped out of bed and as soon as I opened the door was met with flames. I slammed it shut and before I knew it I was punching out my window. Standing on my roof. I stood for seconds on the roof on the far side of my house looking down on my Mom screaming into the house as it spit out flames," Sam continued.

"I jumped from the roof and ran to the front of the house as I dialed 911. I had no idea if my brother was home, I assumed he wasn't, not knowing what time it was, he always stayed out late," Sam said.

As the house continued to burn, Sam and Jake's mom, Ally, had to fight the urge to go back in and look for Jake. "I knew if I went, in I wouldn't come out," Sam said.

The three-alarm fire took more than 55 firefighters over two hours to control. When they firefighters went inside, they found Jake dead on the second floor.

"Their faces told the whole story. It wasn't for some time that we found out for sure Jake had been inside. Our dog was too. He went back in to get my brother," Tooley said.

The fire remains under investigation by authorities.

Since the fire, an outpouring of support from friends, family, neighbors and the community has been overwhelming. A GoFundMe website has been created for the Tooley family, which has already raised more than $157,000 in one day.

Loving memories and condolences continue to be shared on social media.

Sam talked very highly of Jake and the person he was.

"Jake was the type of person you instantly trusted. He was as genuine as they come. He wanted to love you. He wanted to be your friend. He was quiet but not shy. Your happiness always came before his. He and I have been through more than most know. And while I was always praised for how I handled adversity, he did the exact same, at a far younger age. I always admired him," Sam said.

The Tooley family was hit with the death of their father last November as well.

"Our Dad passed away last November very suddenly. Jake and him were so alike. Quiet but strong," Sam said. "They loved their family more than anything. Jake struggled more than he let people in on after losing my Dad. He always wanted to have a smile. He wanted to lift people up."

(Image via GoFundMe website)

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