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On the morning of Saturday, July 5, 2025, my mom went to morning prayer—something she’s done faithfully for the past 30 years. When she returned home, she immediately noticed a strong gas smell and light smoke coming from the kitchen near the oven.
In a panic, she grabbed a bag and a few items before running out of the apartment. The door locked behind her before she realized she had left her phone and keys inside. The next ten minutes were filled with panic and desperation as she knocked, buzzed, and shouted for help. Eventually, a neighbor came down and called 911 with her. By the time the fire department arrived, the entire kitchen and hallway was up in flames.
Thanks to the quick response and bravery of the River Edge Fire Department, the fire was contained before it could spread further throughout the building. We’re still waiting on the final fire report, but it has been deemed accidental. She wasn’t cooking that morning or the night before, so we still don’t know exactly what caused it.
The fire left her apartment uninhabitable. We don’t yet know how long it will take for her unit to be restored, or if she will need to move entirely.
For context, this apartment has been my mom’s home for 19 years. It’s where she and I moved in together in 2007 after years apart—I was 13 and we couldn’t afford a two-bedroom, so we shared one. It’s the longest place she’s ever lived, and it holds so much history for both of us. Through every high and low, she’s remained grounded, resilient, and faithful. Losing her home so suddenly has been devastating.
While my mom remains optimistic, here is the reality:
- Her renters insurance includes $2,500 in “loss of use” coverage, which is meant to help with temporary housing, food, and basic needs. It also includes $25,000 in personal property coverage—but given the extent of the damage, we believe her losses will exceed that amount.
- Her apartment management has been difficult to work with. They haven’t offered her another unit, haven’t refunded the July rent she prepaid, and have even said she’s still expected to pay rent—even though the apartment is uninhabitable.
- We are trying to secure permanent housing. Ideally, the unit will be repaired and she can return, or she’ll be moved into another comparable unit in the same complex.
- For now, she is staying in a hotel covered by insurance funds until July 16. That coverage is running out. We’ve used some of the funds to purchase basic clothing, undergarments, and toiletries, as she left with only the clothes on her back.
What she needs:
- Funds for hotel and temporary housing. This is our most urgent need. Having her own space while we figure out the next steps is essential for her peace of mind. (And mine as I’m not local to support her)
- Storage support. Some of her items may be salvageable, but until she has a permanent place, they’ll need to be stored.
- Potential cleaning assistance. We’re unsure if her complex will properly and safely clean the unit.
- Advice. If you’ve ever dealt with fire damage, we’d love any tips on restoring items impacted by smoke and soot.
- Prayer. If you know my mom, you know she is a prayer warrior. She was literally coming back from early morning service when this happened.
We ask prayer for:
- A conflict-free resolution with her apartment management, Safe, stable housing
- Continued support from local leaders—so far, the fire chief, the towns department of health nurse, and the mayor have shown incredible kindness
- Healing as she grieves her home, routines, belongings, and sense of stability
What she doesn’t need right now:
- Food deliveries. She’s staying in a hotel with only a small fridge and no kitchen.
- Clothing. We’ve purchased the basics, and she doesn’t have a lot of space to even store anything else. She’s also trying to dry clean some of her smoke-affected clothing, though we’ve been told it may not fully work.
If you made it this far, thank you. Truly. If you know my mom—or even just me—you know we don’t like asking for help. It makes us uncomfortable and we usually try to handle everything on our own. But this fire has left us with no choice but to lean on our community, and we’re so grateful for any support you’re able to offer—whether through prayer, sharing this link, or contributing financially.
We are beyond grateful that she got out safely and wasn’t physically harmed. The aftermath has been overwhelming, but we remain hopeful.
Thank you again for reading, and for showing up for my mom in this time.
Organizer
