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Firefighters rally to assist family left homeless in Northumberland County blaze

PHOTO PROVIDED The Lyons family was left homeless after a fire destroyed their house in the Turbotville area.

One week after an accidental electrical fire destroyed the Turbotville area home where city firefighter John “J.J.” Lyons lived with his wife, Jessica, and the couple’s 5-year-old daughter, Jilline, efforts are well underway to get the family into a new temporary home before Christmas.

“The family is holding up as well as can be expected. The whole process is a bit overwhelming at times,” Sherman Heaster, another city firefighter and a close family friend, said Thursday afternoon.

“They have their high points and their low points,” Heaster said, saying that Lyons and his family have been going through a rollercoaster of emotions ever since Dec. 2 when they suddenly found themselves homeless after a fire ripped through their two-story house on Trent Road in Northumberland County three weeks before Christmas weekend.

No one was home when the blaze broke out about 10:45 a.m. The family’s husky mix, KC, and a cat perished in the fire.

As news of the blaze quickly spread, numerous city firefighters and other supporters soon met up with Lyons at the scene and rallied to offer whatever support they could.

“We are currently in the works of securing a home a few miles from his house. I’m not sure how it all came about. A group of us will be there this weekend, getting the place ready so his family can soon move in,” Heaster said.

A vacant three-bedroom home has been secured for the Lyons family to live for an extended period of time, he said.

“A very generous homeowner has come forward, allowing J.J. and his family to move in and stay until J.J.’s home is rebuilt (at the same site),” Heaster said.

“That the long-term plan for now,” he added.

The short-term plan is to get the Lyons family in the house by Christmas.

“We want a Christmas tree up. We want the family opening up gifts in that house,” Heaster said.

Lyons, his wife and daughter have been staying with relatives in the Lewisburg area since the fire.

While Lyons had insurance on the home and its contents, countless personal and irreplaceable belongings such as photos, special gifts and items handed down from previous generations are gone for good.

It’s been a tough week for the family, but the outpouring of love and support from those in the fire service community and others has been “astounding” for Lyons and his wife, Heaster said.

“There have been offers ranging from helping the family with moving to monetary gifts. People have been so generous. It’s heartwarming. It really is,” Heaster said.

A firefighter since 2007, Lyons is an engineer on the city pumper that runs out of the Old Lycoming Township firehouse on Dewey Avenue. Off duty since the fire, he hopes to return to work by the end of next week, Heaster said.

The Lyons family is very appreciative of all that has been done for them, Heaster said.

“All kinds of furniture has already been donated,” Heaster said.

“We’re grateful for whatever people wish to offer, but really the best donations at this time would be monetary gift cards,” Heaster said, adding that such cards would allow the family to get what they need most.

Donations can be dropped off at city fire headquarters at 440 Walnut St.

“So far, all their needs have been met, but this is going to be a long, extended process. This is going to be months, if not a year, until the house is rebuilt and they’re back in it,” Heaster said.

A spaghetti benefit dinner for the Lyons family will be held at the Old Lycoming Township firehouse, 1600 Dewey Ave., from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday.

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