Hendersonville family of five lose everything in fire
Sandra Swartzelder and Eric Cox
The gutted interior of the Hendersonville home of Sandra Swartzelder and Eric Cox
Despite the best efforts of firefighters, flames destroyed the Hendersonville home of Sandra Swartzelder and Eric Cox.
Sandra Swartzelder had just put her 2-year-old daughter down for a nap in a first-floor bedroom Monday afternoon while her boyfriend prepared stuffed peppers in the kitchen when a fire broke out at their Cecil Township home.
“He started smelling smoke and thought it was something with the stove,” she said of her boyfriend, Eric Cox. “Then the dog started barking and Eric could see orange under the bedroom door. He kicked open the door and the crib was on fire.”
Cox grabbed baby Piper and got her out of the room.
“He tried bringing in a garden hose,” Swartzelder said. “I went outside to call 911. The fire was so bad, my stepson, James Cox, had to jump out his bedroom window because he couldn’t get down the stairs.”
Within minutes their home at 414 Blue Jay Drive in the village of Hendersonville was up in flames.
Cox had lived in the home for a number of years while Swartzelder moved in about a year ago with him, his 17-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, Jessica Cox. Jessica returned home from school as firefighters from Cecil No. 1 (Lawrence) were fighting the fire with assistance from members of Cecil No. 2 (Muse), Cecil No. 3 (Cecil), McDonald and Fairview.
Schwartzelder said the family lost everything and the house was not insured. She said Cox had been in the hospital in late April after suffering a heart attack. He has been off work without pay, recently starting cardiac rehabilitation. Township police said Cox was taken to Washington Hospital as a precaution.
The fire appears to have started in a heater in the bedroom. The state police fire marshal is investigating, but nothing appears suspicious, police said.
The American Red Cross has temporarily put up the family for a few days at a motel off Racetrack Road and given them gift cards. They also have been staying at their mothers’ homes.
“We’ve had clothing donated,” she said. “The Canon-McMillan School District has been great, giving clothes, shoes and bookbags to the kids.
“The foundation is the only thing left,” Swartzelder said. “Eric would really like to rebuild, but I guess we will have to see if the township will let us.”
Swartzelder said the family needs everything, but particularly financial assistance as it tries to rebuild.
“But we are all alive,” she said.
Cox’s brother, Jeff Cox, set up a GoFundMe page at Eric Cox and Family House Loss Fund to help the family of five.