Submitted photo This photo shows a home in the 2800 block of Templeton Road in Warren Township engulfed by flames Nov. 19. The house was a total loss and the family that lived there is now trying to rebuild their life.

WARREN TOWNSHIP — A family of three is trying to rebuild after a fire destroyed their Templeton Road home a week before Thanksgiving.

Homeowner Jolene Hefner, who recently turned 80, has lived on Templeton Road since 1978. The fire last month gutted the house where her niece, Allisa Neff and Neff’s husband, Lucas, had moved in to care for her after her husband’s death in 2018.

“I know we’ll get through it. It’s just how long and how hard it’ll be,” Allisa Neff said. “Even if the insurance companies don’t help with the house, I think me and my husband will try to do something to get the house back.”

The family now shares a one-bedroom house with four people, including Hefner, who has mobility issues.

They face delays in replacing identification cards and sorting out insurance claims.

The Warren Township Fire Department and several other nearby departments responded to the blaze that began in the garage around 9:30 a.m. Nov. 19. The cause is believed to be electrical.

Family members said they escaped in pajamas and slippers, and rescued their dog, but lost a cat. Flames damaged a vehicle and melted plastic on another car parked nearby.

Construction on nearby roads slowed firefighters’ response, according to Allisa Neff. Other departments arrived first, but the delay allowed the fire to spread.

“If they would have been there, like, when they could have been, I bet the garage had been the only thing damaged, and our house would be fine,” she said.

Insurance complications arose during a switch in providers. The home had been under insurance by the bank, which limited options. Insurance companies required repairs like a new boiler and water tank, which the family completed, but coverage remained elusive.

“The insurance, it was just messed up because at the time, we were trying to switch insurance companies,” Allisa Neff said.

The Neffs, who run a small construction business, lost tools accumulated over years, including some inherited from Hefner’s late husband. Without them, work has halted.

“It would take another lifetime to replace it,” Allisa Neff said.

Before the fire, the family dealt with two floods in eight years at another property, leading them to consolidate belongings at the Templeton Road home.

The land holds family history as it once was part of Little Metal Farms divided among siblings. A pond sits behind the property, which is now owned by relatives.

“We don’t want to lose the record,” Allisa Neff said.

The Neffs visit the site nightly to prevent looting and search for salvageable items, like metal tools or the ashes of their pet.

The Red Cross provided a small voucher for essentials the day of the fire. Family and community members donated clothes and other items.

“Lots of wonderful people did reach out to us,” Hefner said.

The family skipped Thanksgiving amid the chaos but draws strength from memories of holidays in the home, as well as their faith.

“A lot of memories, Christmases and Thanksgivings and family get togethers at the house,” Hefner said.

Looking ahead, they aim to secure temporary housing for Hefner, possibly a nursing home, while planning the rebuild.

“One day, I’ll be back,” Allisa Neff said.

To help the famiy, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-rebuild-home-replace-belongs-for-jolene-allisa-luke.