N.J. family recovers a week after waking up to home on fire

A truck smashed into an N.J. home after striking a gas line.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A week after a Salem County man woke up to a truck in his living room and home on fire, he is still picking up the pieces and moving forward.

Hank Walters and his wife Kathy were sleeping last Thursday when a pickup truck crashed into a gas line, then their home.

The Walters -- who have lived in their home for five decades -- were lucky to survive the blaze, but also said this week that they were grateful for the support of the community.

Pictured is the home, located on the corner of Dunlap and Hook Road in Pennsville Township after a fire tore through the structure when a truck smashed into the house and struck a gas line last week. Recovery efforts on the property continue, Thursday, March 24, 2016 (Brittany M. Wehner | For NJ.com)
 

While Hank Walters did not have a lot to say on the fire, he did express the kindness of his former coworkers and neighbors.

"The community has been very helpful," he added.

Walters worked for the Salem County Dispatch Center from October 1988 to October 2013 when he retired.

For 25 years, he dedicated time as a leader at the 911 center.

To show how much his former workers care about him and his family, fellow public safety telecommunications, police officers, firemen and EMS personnel dropped off a monetary gift, according to Salem County Undersheriff John Cuzzupe, who is in charge of the dispatch center.

"There's no doubt this is one of many examples of how personnel from our emergency services communities pull together in a time of crisis to support one another," Cuzzupe said.

The Walters were able to salvage many of their belongings and are working to recover from the fire.

The response of all fire companies, according to Pennsville Police Chief Allen Cummings, was extraordinary.

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"It's a brotherhood -- they're all connected. I was very impressed with the fire department's response. At that hour in the morning, everyone is getting ready and going to work," Cummings said.

While firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, there was a constant flame shooting out, according to Cummings, and it took well over an hour for the gas series to safely handle the line break.

"People need to give credit to volunteer firemen. They do a lot of training and respond to things in the middle of the night. It's neat to see departments work as one group when they're out there," Cummings said.