A Plumstead Township couple displaced by a fast-moving house fire just after Christmas is receiving an outpouring of community support as they begin to recover from the devastating loss.
Jerry and Tracy Hawk lost their home in the 5200 block of Roseberry Drive early Sunday morning, after a fire that officials said started in the kitchen and quickly spread throughout the residence, according to the Bucks County Herald.
The couple was forced to flee into freezing temperatures shortly before 2:30 a.m. and escaped safely, though several of their pets did not survive, according to authorities. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from both sides of the home, prompting a large multi-company response amid concerns the fire could spread to nearby houses.
Fire crews from the Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company, along with Point Pleasant, Doylestown, Palisades Regional Fire Rescue, Chalfont, Dublin, Lingohocken and Midway, battled the blaze using hand lines and remained on scene to extinguish hot spots, according to the article. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
In the days since the fire, friends and coworkers have organized relief efforts to help the Hawks rebuild. A GoFundMe campaign created by Wendy DiDomenico, a coworker of Jerry Hawk, had raised more than $10,000 of its $12,000 goal as of Wednesday evening.
Additional donation drives are seeking household essentials, including towels, bedding, clothing, shoes and grocery store gift cards, per the report. Community members coordinating the effort said winter coats and pillows have already been donated, but several other basic needs remain.
