A family of five was not home Sunday afternoon, Nov. 5, when a fire destroyed their home and all of their personal possessions, also taking the life of the family dog.
The Middle Township Police Department confirmed that at around 2:15 p.m., Nov. 5, it received a report of a fire in a unit at the Delsea Woods Mobile Home Park at 295 Route 47 in Dias Creek. Police said the Green Creek Fire Company, Rio Grande Fire Company, Villas Volunteer Fire Department and Middle Township EMS were dispatched to the scene. Police said no one was home at the time of the fire but the residence was completely destroyed.
A next-door neighbor posted via Facebook that the family lost their puppy in the fire, which melted her shed doors and a plastic trash dumpster. She could not say if any other properties suffered any damage.
Police said the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. The American Red Cross was contacted and responded to the scene to provide aid to the residents.
A GoFundMe page was set up by an individual self-identified as Abdiel Neives, who said he is a cousin of one of the victims. Neives said there were five people living in the mobile home, including three children. He confirmed that first responders were unable to save the dog. The GoFundMe page indicated that, as of Wednesday, Nov. 8, it had raised over $2,700 of a $4,000 goal amount.
