Over $9,000 has been raised within a day for a family who was displaced from their Richmond home after a fire destroyed their belongings and killed their pet bird.
The Richmond Township Fire Protection District responded around 5:31 a.m. Thursday to the 9200 block of Glacier Ridge Drive in Richmond for a report of a structure fire.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from a single-story residence, according to Richmond Township Fire Protection District Spokesman Alex Vucha.
Firefighters quickly deployed hose lines while simultaneously setting up rural water operations and ladder truck operations, Vucha said.
Command staff activated the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to the box alarm level to bring additional manpower and water resources to the scene.
The fire quickly spread into the attic space and into the adjacent bedrooms.
Vucha said firefighters used a technique called “vertical ventilation” to cut a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape.
The fire was considered extinguished within 45 minutes.
Firefighters were able to isolate the fire to one side of the home. The home was deemed uninhabitable.
One adult was evaluated by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation but was not transported to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.
Vucha said the fire is believed to have begun in the basement and extended to the main floor.
The fire is not believed to be suspicious in nature but remains under investigation by the Richmond Township Fire Protection District.
Ringwood resident Melissa Diedrich created a GoFundMe account Thursday for the Koop family.
The mother, Cortnee, and kids were out of town, Diedrich said. The father, Brandon, along with the family’s dog and cat were able to evacuate.
Their pet bird died in the fire and their belongings were also lost.
“The road ahead is unknown, but above all else, they are very grateful they are safe. Please consider helping the Koops as they navigate the weeks and months ahead. They appreciate your support, prayers, and kind words more than you know,” Diedrich said.