Beloved Keyport Family Loses Home to Sudden Fire During Holiday Preparations
On Saturday morning, Christina Greenberg and her husband lost their Keyport, Monmouth County home to an unexpected fire before their annual community holiday celebration. The Greenbergs have hosted neighbors for the fire department’s Christmas parade for nearly 20 years in the small town.
Fire started while the family’s backyard patio, typically full of kids and families, was being set up for this year’s festival. Greenberg said a natural gas heater in the enclosed room failed at 10 a.m., burning the back of the house. Kitchen window exploded as flames entered.
Greenberg hurried to protect her family amid the pandemonium. “Our daughter was upstairs, and I screamed for her to leave,” told. While leaving, Greenberg grabbed family dogs Finn and Hendricks after they raced into the fire. Family survived the terrifying ordeal unharmed.
The fire was extinguished by local firefighters, but the home was destroyed. “Our entire house has to come down,” Greenberg added. Foundation fails. We lost everything but clothes.” As their home hosted neighborhood parties, Fourth of July celebrations, and other activities, her anguish spread.
Keyport swiftly rallied around the Greenbergs in this trying time. The New Jersey Red Cross offered emergency lodging, clothing, food, and more. A neighboring pet motel houses the family’s pets until a permanent solution is found.
Family rebuilding is funded by GoFundMe. About $17,000 was raised by Sunday night. Greenberg: “Right now, we’re not sure where we’ll live. Insurance pending. Any community help is appreciated.”
The incident emphasizes residential fire safety, especially during winter heating equipment use. Home safety tips include heating maintenance and avoiding leaving equipment unattended.
Community resiliency shows as the Greenbergs restore their home and recover from their tragedy. In this unforeseen event, neighbors support the family.
Sources:
New Jersey Red Cross
Monmouth County Fire Department
Keyport Local Community Reports
