CAROLINA BEACH (WWAY)–Multiple agencies responded to an early morning house fire in the St. Joseph’s Place community in Carolina Beach on Tuesday.
New Hanover County dispatch confirmed they got reports about the fire around 1:00 a.m.
Detective Sgt. Scott Hettinger with Carolina Beach Police says a neighbor called after hearing a loud noise.
Hettinger also says it was a neighbor who helped the family of five escape from the home.
A family member told WWAY off camera that the family had moved into the house four months ago.
“We’ve helped many families over our short 5 year period and today we’re looking to help the family whose home burned down 8 days before Christmas,” Bryant Bass, Board of Director Member for Pleasure Island Disaster Relief Fund, said.
Bass says the group is stepping up to help the family have a merry Christmas.
“We’re trying to raise funds so that we can get their immediate needs taken care of,” Bass said. “We all know insurance takes a good while to come into effect and they lost everything last night.”
Bass says a local business has donated an apartment for the family, but, with a history of helping families recover from fires on Pleasure Island, Bass says the more help the better.
“It seems that every time there is a disaster of some nature here whether a fire, the hurricanes, or we have to help somebody with a surgery the community really rallies around and comes together,” Bass said.
Bass says there are three ways to support the family through the non-profit:
- The Pleasure Island Disaster Relief Fund Facebook page
- P.O. Box 284 Carolina Beach, NC 28428
- Bass Built Custom Homes 1003 Bennet Lane Unit J Carolina Beach, NC 28428
There have been no reported injuries.
Carolina Beach Police, Kure Beach Police, Wilmington Fire department, and New Hanover Fire and EMS are among the agencies to respond.
The fire caused significant damage to the house. It’s cause remains under investigation by Carolina Beach Police and Fire Department.