Vintage Victorian Home Destroyed by Fire in Little Silver
Candles lit for a holiday party in the Carriage House Lane house caught curtains and touched off the blaze. The family escaped unharmed.
A Victorian-era home on Carriage House Lane in Little Silver was destroyed Saturday, with several area fire departments called in to knock down the flames. All of the occupants were evacuated before the major damage took place.
Officials said the fire began in the circa 1892 Queen Anne style home at 28 Carriage House Lane when preparations for an annual Christmas party at the Loftus residence went terribly wrong.
The Red Cross and neighbors have offered assistance to the Loftus family. The Loftus' will be staying with family during their displacement. The American Red Cross, Jersey Coast Chapter can be reached at 732-493-9100.
Five candles lit in the kitchen between the sink and curtains caught the curtains on fire, and flames quickly spread through the home. Donna Loftus, her 11-year-old son, and two housekeepers were home when the fire began. The initial 911 call from Donna Loftus' son was received around 1 p.m. Saturday.
Firefighters from Oceanport, Neptune, Long Branch, West Long Branch, Shrewsbury, Little Silver, Tinton Falls, Fair Haven, and Wayside all responded. EMS crews from Shrewsbury, Little Silver and Fair Haven also responded. Red Bank covered for Little Silver at the firehouse on Prospect Avenue during the blaze.
Around 3 p.m., flames were seen through the roof and the deck was charred. Crews from Shrewsbury, Long Branch and West Long Branch were busy hosing down the blaze with firefighters up in ladders and unmanned "squirts." The roof collapsed around 3:30 p.m.
Police Chief Dan Shaffery said getting water to the fire proved difficult, despite the home's location near the Shrewsbury River.
"We wanted to draft out of the river, but we couldn't. We can't get down there and back out. As you can see, there are hoses everywhere, all over the place," said Shaffery.
As of 6:30 p.m., firefighters were still fighting pockets of fire in the house. Shaffery said crews set up scene lights to fight the blaze into the evening, and that the house would be condemned.
Shaffery believed the age of the building's wood, lack of insulation, and balloon framing construction style (which is now against fire code) may have been contributing factors to the fire's spread.
Police and fire officials said the fire was the largest the town has seen since a fire completely destroyed a home on Bernard Terrace four or five years ago.
Heavy smoke blew across the Shrewsbury River as far as Asbury Avenue in Oceanport during the day. Silverside Avenue was closed at the intersections of Seven Bridges Road and Oceanport Avenue through the evening as firefighters continued to fight the blaze.
The fire was under control by 5 p.m. Saturday but rekindled twice as firefighters returned at 11 p.m. Saturday evening and again around 10 a.m. Sunday morning.
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lawrence williard
5:48 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Such a shame. Was a beautiful house. I really wanted to know what was going on and what caused the fire. Thanks for the great pictures and most extensive coverage I've seen, Greg.
Dina Smyth
6:49 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
We love you Donna and Joe. We are here for you . . . just trying to figure out how to help you at this point. Dina and Sean
Kelly Cullen
7:16 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
If anyone knows how we can help the family in the coming days, weeks, please let us know! Extra clothes, meals, anything!
jasondhsd
7:36 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
What a shame. That lady is never going to want to see another candle as long as she lives. It's amazing how fast a fire can spread, probably even 30 seconds after it started it was too late unless they lived next door to the fire dept. I bet like most people they didn't have a fire extinguisher handy that if they caught it while only the curtain was burning might of saved it. I think I'll check up on my fire extinguisher and get another one for the second floor. Besides losing a friend or family member, watching everything I worked so hard to burn and turn to ash is my greatest fear.
Claire Harbeck Izzo
10:04 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
God bless you, dear friends. Our house is your house and our prayers are your prayers. - Claire, Matt, Jay, Matt and Michael
Lauren
11:14 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
I grew up in the house in the 1970's and I'm heart sick to hear of the fire. My thoughts are with the Loftus family.
Lana Sorrentino
11:25 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. So happy the family is safe. Our grandpa is your neighbor. We are here to help.
Lana, Ryan and Jillian Gutleber
Ryan
5:46 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
That was my family's home from the end of the 70's through the late 80's/early 90's ... It's pretty shocking to see these photos of "my home" being reduced to ashes ... my big brother's room on the 3rd floor, and my sisters' rooms being drenched by the fire hoses ... I would drive my [new] family past this house every time we'd visit the area from where we live overseas now. Brings back alot of memories. I'm glad nobody was injured ... now it's time to work on the emotional/psychological damage.
Rob Cottrell
11:31 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
I spent most of m childhood in that house with my cousins, most of my best memories are all from that home. Things will never be the same now, when I drive by the area and cant stop in to see the house. Like Ryan, this is going to be hard all over again, just like when we sold the house. Only thing is now we cant even see it. Glad all got out alright though.
John A. Patti
4:46 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
I don't know if there has been any updates on how we can help and what is needed. My wife and I knew the family when we lived in Little Silver and we are saddened by what happened. Please post how we can help.
patricia patten
6:17 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
I echo John's request. So many hearts are aching for the Loftus family and would like to be of support. Please post how we can help. Donna, Joe, and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Trish Patten
Mary Kate Kane
9:28 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Donna and Joe really need donations of gift cards, like Visa/Amex gift cards, cash or checks. They can be sent to:
Resources Real Estate
112 E. River Rd
Rumson
NJ 07760.
The owner, Carolynn, is a friend and has offered her business as a drop off place for gift cards, checks or cash. So many people have generously donated clothes, so the family has enough clothes now. Gift cards are the best way to help. Please remember to include a note, since the sentiment that you are there for Donna and Joe is most important.
Janet McGinnis Forino
8:32 am on Monday, December 12, 2011
Donna and Joe and their family are long time friends of mine and I would like to help them in collecting donations of cash, gift cards & checks can be dropped off at the
Township of Ocean Administation Building, 163 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, c/o
Janet McGinnis Forino. Their youngest, Brendan is only 11.
Scudder E. DeLon Jr.
9:17 am on Monday, December 12, 2011
That's a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MANSION in a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TOWN. Do these MILLIONAIRES really need "hand-outs" as if they were car-wash employees who's inner-city tenement was destroyed by fire?
I guess people could send them "charitable donations" (Amex & Visa cards) to their new temporary residence.... The Waldorf Astoria?
They have insurance!
Give me a friggin break!
Scudder E. DeLon Jr.
9:23 am on Monday, December 12, 2011
"Donna Loftus, her 11-year-old son, and two housekeepers were home when the fire began."
The Loftus' had at least TWO housekeepers? .... yet THEY need "DONATIONS"? If ANYBODY in this story needs "DONATIONS" & will fall upon "hard times", it's the HOUSEKEEPERS who are now out of a job!
Lori Stratford
10:38 am on Monday, December 12, 2011
This family are not looking for handouts. They have lost everything and need a hand while they reestablish their lives. Please have your facts straight before you cast your opinion to the world. It only makes you look foolish and hard hearted.
Elizabeth Scopio Neary
1:10 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011
I'll say it again......
I understand your judgment although it's so incredibly misplaced. Your assumptions are so way off about this family and this town. When you loose everything but what is on your backs on a Saturday afternoon, including your beloved pets it really doesn't matter how much money you have. I feel sorry for anyone who is so bitter about the "haves and have not's" that they can't just give or just feel empathy for someone else. We love this family, and so when news came in that there was something we could do, selfishly....it made me feel better to help. So I take a little bit of what I have and give it to my neighbor and love is passed. It has nothing to do with the money, it has to do with the feelings that go with it. Little Silver is a wonderful community filled with caring human beings. Some have lots and some don't. Merry Christmas!
BMAC
2:47 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011
You know it doesn't matter how wealthy the family they just lost everything at the worse time of the year and some people are just going to criticize them like that!? Unreal I really hope this family can dust their knees off and move on to bigger and better things my thoughts are with them and as for you critics out there you suck!
leonard smith
3:17 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011
We had many wonderful times in that house with the Simon Family...My wife had her Baby Shower in that very yard...not to mention many a summer nights on the lawn with the neighbors. The Community has lost a piece of history.
And someone should drag 'Scudder' out of his delusional state and slap him into reality.
Patti Tillie MobusSnover
5:22 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011
I am so sorry to hear about everyone's loss. It is a heartache, I know..been there, done this myself. Hang in there. It will take time, but with the support of family, friends and the community, it does get a little better...honest!