A GoFundMe page has been started for a Jersey City Heights family who lost everything in a four-alarm blaze last week, an incident that displaced 26 people and is under investigation for arson.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Custodio family, including Johnny, Olga, Jonathan, Gabriela, Lia, Max, Israel, and their relatives Leandro, Elizabeth, and Ashleyann Ogando, have called this place home for years. They invested their lives and love into this home, building their version of the American Dream. But in the blink of an eye, they now face a harsh new reality with nothing left but the clothes on their backs,” Olga Custodio wrote in the GoFundMe page description.
“This Latino family has been a cornerstone in our community, always willing to lend a hand and contribute to the warmth and diversity of Jersey City. Now, with three young children and nowhere to turn, they need our support more than ever. Any contribution you can make will go directly towards helping the Custodios with immediate needs, including temporary housing, clothing, and basic supplies, as they start from scratch and work to rebuild their lives.”
The page has set a goal of $20,000, with $5,953 raised from 97 people as of 2:15 p.m. this afternoon.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday, the Jersey City Fire Department was notified of a fire at 3507 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Upon arrival, emergency responders located heavy smoke and fire coming from the building, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.
The fire, which is believed to have originated in a ground level business, quickly spread to adjacent residential units. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at Jersey City Medical Center, while 26 residents were displaced as a result of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force and the Jersey City Fire Department.
