Family escapes from burning house in Westminster

At first glance, Jocelyn Hoffman realized fire had destroyed much of her house on Barnes Avenue in Westminster and a lifetime of possessions inside. 

 

"Everything that we own is in there,” Hoffman said. “I've lived in this house my whole life.  It was my granddad's house.  He just passed away, and it just seems crazy that right after he passes away, this happens.  It's so sad."

 

Investigators say the fire started just after 2 o'clock in the morning on the rear deck of the home and climbed the structure to the roof as the family slept inside.

 

While the cause of the fire is unknown for now, there's little question what saved their lives.

 

"Luckily, the family did have working smoke alarms, which did alert them that there was smoke in the residence and they did escape safely,” Deputy State Fire Marshal Bruce Bouch said. “However, by the time the fire department did arrive, fire was already through the roof."

 

It was a narrow escape for three adults and Jocelyn's 10-year-old son.

 

 

"There was tons of smoke in the house and then I guess they all got out," she said.

 

And while she fears she may have lost all of her clothing, personal items and other possessions, she realizes it could have been much, much worse.

 

"I don't know what I would do if I lost my son or my dad," she said. 

 

The State Fire Marshal's Office has placed the estimated damage to the home at $250,000, plus another $50,000 for its contents.