The Warren residence in Sloatsburg suffered substantial damage due to a sudden basement fire that traveled up the interior walls to the attic.

Just as a Sloatsburg family was settling down for the night and all ready to host holiday guests, a basement blaze changed everything in a New York minute.

The Warren family, which lives on Richard Street in the Flats in Sloatsburg, was closing down the house for Saturday evening, December 21, when someone smelled smoke. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze at approximately 10:50 p.m.

Always on duty, the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department responds to a house fire Saturday night.

A blaze that started in the Warren family’s basement traveled up the walls to the structure’s attic, causing a dangerous two-stage fire. The Warren’s residence was engulfed with smoke and water damage from local firefighters working to douse the blaze, leaving the family temporarily homeless for the holidays. The family will have to wait for a final estimation on what set off the original basement fire.

A call for aid and assistance for the family was sent out over social media channels by friends, asking for clothes and gift cards, and said that the family made it out into the night with only the clothes on their backs.

Liisa Warren responded in kind with a Facebook post, thanking all those who already stepped forward to help. The family is currently staying at a local hotel until after the holidays.

Stop in to the Sloatsburg Library to pitch in for the Warren family.

The Sloatsburg Public Library has set up a donation jar at the front counter for anyone who wants to donate gift cards to the family. Anyone who would like to make other donations to the the Warren can drop them off at the library as well until other arrangements can be made.

Saturday night, the Warren’s basement was filled with nearly two feet of water and all the family belongings have been lost to either water or smoke damage.

Photo of Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department responding to the Warren fire courtesy of Liisa Warren.