A Hillsborough family of seven is homeless after a
fire destroyed their newly renovated home at 149 New
Amwell Road at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
No one was home at the time of the fire and no
injuries were reported.
Doug and Diane Dembiec and their five children are
still in disbelief after their home and all their
personal possessions burst into flames, according to
relatives.
The family has been staying in a local hotel, whicle
trying to begin putting their lives back together,
according to Mr. Dembiec's mother, Dolores Bobrowsky.
Ms. Bobrowsky said the Amwell Road home started as a
small ranch house Mr. Dembiec purchased in 1987. He
expanded it through the years, adding bedrooms, two
bathrooms and additional storage space to house the
seven family members.
While some of the framework and construction was done
professionally, much of the remodeling and renovating
was done by Mr. and Ms. Dembiec.
"Now they lost everything," Ms. Bobrowsky said. "They
just have their clothes on their back. Doug lost his
motorcycle and the kids lost their trophies and
pictures. It's all gone.
"How do you replace that?" she asked.
The family also lost antiques stored in the basement
and a collection of unique porcelain dolls.
All the family's children — Cody, 10, and Brianna
Dembiec, 13, and Brittany, 11, Brianna, 13, and Brett
Bisconti, 16 — attend Hillsborough public schools and
participate in school sports, including baseball and
football.
According to Mrs. Bobrowsky, fire officials said that
the fire started in mulch underneath the deck, "but they
will probably never know what really caused it."
Fire crews from Hillsborough Vol. Fire Cos. 1, 2 and
3 were joined by firefighters from Neshanic Station,
Manville, Finderne and Branchburg.
"We got the fire under control in about 45 minutes,"
Sean Taylor, chief of Hillsborough Vol. Fire Co. No. 1
said.
Although under control, fire officials reported
flames were still seen on the first floor of the house
at 3:30 p.m.
Donations may sent to Doug and Diane Dembiec, c/o
Foreign Specialties, 439 N. Main St., Manville, NJ 08835
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