The Morris County community is rallying behind the residents and business owners impacted by a fire in Dover.
The large fire left more than 100 people homeless and destroyed several businesses. It sparked in the basement of Barry’s Luncheonette on North Warren Street and quickly spread to at least one other building.
Crews are still on scene working to clear away debris after one of the buildings collapsed.
Fabian Beltran says that he was inside his notary business when the fire started.
“We ran into the building…all the way up to try to get everybody out,” he says.
Beltran says that the community is coming together to help the victims.
“People are coming to my other office and saying, ‘Fabian, we’re here for you,’” he says. “But the main concern is the community.”
When word got out about the fire, donations started to pour in from neighbors. Salome Roldan says that she noticed a young child without socks – that child now left homeless after the fire.
“When I saw the child I ran to the dollar store there and I got socks for the little boy,” she says.
The state fire marshal and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the fire, trying to determine how it started.
But Dover Mayor James Dodd says that right now the main focus is helping the families and businesses.
“Hearts and prayers are out for them. It’s devastating to know when everything you have is lost, so we’re here for them,” Dodd says.
No injuries were reported from the fire.