How To Help Secaucus Hagan Place Fire Victims

SECAUCUS, NJ — If you would like to help any of the four families affected by the fire Monday morning on Hagan Place, the best way to do so is through the Secaucus Emergency Fund.

As Patch reported, the fire broke out at 3 a.m. Monday morning, Dec. 11 at 250 Hagan Place. The fire started underneath a backyard deck, near an air conditioning unit, and because the deck was all wood, it spread very rapidly and even spread to the home next door, 244 Hagan Place.

"The residents were sleeping and heard an explosion, which fortunately woke them up," Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli told Patch. "They looked out and everything was on fire. 250 suffered the worst damage; the couple that lives there will not be able to return home for about six months. 244 was also damaged, but they should be able to get back into their home in the next few months."

Both homes had apartments inside, which is common in Secaucus, so in total four families were affected. The family at 244 Hagan has children, too. Neither home is habitable right now. So where are those families living? The town of Secaucus actually helped place them in temporary housing until they can move back home.

"We worked to put one family at an apartment at Xchange, which always works with us at times like this," said Gonnelli. "The other tenant we got into a one-bedroom apartment on Maple Street. Their rent is covered by homeowner's insurance."

The Secaucus Emergency Fund was created exactly for situations like these, Mayor Gonnelli explained: When a Secaucus resident or family suffers an unfortunate event or tragedy and needs the community's help, the best thing to give is a check or credit card donation administered by the fund. The best way to help is to give a monetary donation through the fund, which is a 501(c)3 and is tax-deductible. You can make a donation online through the website here or drop off a check at 101 Centre Avenue. You can designate where you want your donation to go, such as "Hagan Place fire victims." Each homeowner was already given $500 that was already in the fund.

Related: Homeowner 'Devastated' After Fire In Secaucus Home

Photo of the damaged homes on Hagan Place by Carly Baldwin/Secaucus Patch