UPDATE: Fire Marshal Reports Cause of Fire That Destroyed Whitesboro Home

Photos and Video by Bryon Cahill.
WHITESBORO – Firefighters were called to the scene of a structure fire at 900 Vick Street in Whitesboro around 1:00 p.m. June 17. Early scanner reports indicated that smoke could be seen rising up over trees on Route 9. Green Creek, Rio Grande and Erma Fire companies responded.
Firefighters extinguished the fire that consumed the house of Martha Crawley, Fred Crawley and Faith McNeal. No injuries were sustained and the family dog was also reported as safe.
Joseph Gaines, brother of Martha Crawley and Faith McNeal told the Herald that he was saddened by the news of his sisters’ loss. “Most of the plans for my homecoming were made in that house,” Gaines said. “Thank God everyone got out safe.”
The cause of the fire, reported June 20 by Cape May County Fire Marshal Connie Johnson, was “discarded smoking materials on the front porch. There was a planter on the front porch with some dry vegetation and smoking materials were discarded into that, causing the fire.”