On July 4, 2026, fire swept through our property in River Edge, NJ. We lost nearly everything, photos, clothes, our kids' handmade cards, college diplomas. We walked away with only the clothes on our backs.
But the next morning, walking the wreckage, something else caught my eye: over a hundred empty water bottles scattered across the property. And our family portraits, not shattered on the floor, but carefully tucked under the bed covers upstairs, protected from the flames below.
Firefighters from five towns responded that night. In the middle of saving our home, they still took the time to protect what mattered most to us. When I spoke with one of them a few days later, I asked how they stay hydrated on scenes like this. His answer: it's usually self-funded, donated, or pulled from department budgets that are already stretched thin.
That shouldn't be the case.
This fund exists to make sure the firefighters who show up for River Edge, and the neighboring towns who answer the call, never have to think twice about water on the fireground. Every dollar goes toward hydration supplies for the departments who responded on July 4th and who will answer the next call, too.
My wife Erin and I are so appreciative of this act of heroism in the middle of an emergency, and we want to raise awareness and support for our local departments who give so much with so little in return.
They protected our memories. Let's make sure they're taken care of too. Our goal is to provide 7,426 cases of water, one for every piece of that date, July 4, 2026, the night these firefighters ran into the flames and carried our family's pictures to safety. At $5 a case, that's a goal of $37,130, fully dedicated to keeping this department hydrated on every call that follows. A brave firefighter is a hydrated firefighter.
Read more about what happened that night here: Fourth of July Disaster 5 Alarm Fire
My wife Erin and I want to extend endless thanks to all the departments and organizations who responded and supported us that night:
Oradell Fire Department
New Milford NJ Volunteer Fire Department
City of Hackensack Fire Department
Paramus Fire Department
Teaneck Fire Department
River Edge PBA Local 201