Fort Salonga Family Loses Home, Pets, In Fire: GoFundMe Launched

FORT SALONGA, NY — A Fort Salonga family lost their home in a massive fire last week. A GoFundMe was set up to help the Johnson family, who lost all of their belongings and pets in the blaze on Woodfield Avenue Tuesday.

In less than a week, $21,120 has been raised for the family. Click here to donate to the GoFundMe on behalf of the Johnson family.

"We are overwhelmed by the level of support that our friends, family, and community have given to us," Bryan Johnson, the homeowner, told Patch. "Despite the horrific circumstances of the days since the fire, the generous support from so many has been so very helpful practically and emotionally for us."

Bryan's wife, Ala, and their 7-year-old daughter escaped the home minutes before the entire house became engulfed in flames, Bryan said.

"If it was not for an unknown good Samaritan, they would not have had the chance to escape," Bryan said.

Ala heard repeated loud knocking on the door, Bryan said. When she opened the front door, she saw the flames and a man screaming "Fire, fire, fire!" She grabbed the couple's daughter and escaped through the side garage, according to Bryan. The fire then explosively spread and engulfed the entire home before firefighters arrived, he said.

The fire started somewhere outside in the front, and there was no indication of fire inside the home — no smoke detectors went off, according to Bryan.

The Kings Park Fire Department, along with help from other departments, took on the fire starting 8:55 p.m. Tuesday. The Suffolk County Arson Squad said the cause of the fire is not criminal.