Firefighter loses home to fire

ONSLOW COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A community is coming together around an Onslow County firefighter who lost his home to a fire Tuesday afternoon.

According to our affiliate WCTI, Robert Montcrief, a firefighter on Camp Lejeune and at Half Moon Volunteer Fire Department, lost his home and the majority of his belongings when a fire consumed his home Tuesday. Officials say they received a call to his home around 3 p.m. on Whaley Road just outside of Jacksonville. It was the firefighters from Half Moon Volunteer Fire Department who responded to the fire.

According to the Fire Chief of the Half Moon Volunteer Fire Department, Montcrief was building a shed outside of his home when he realized his house was on fire. Officials say Montcrief went into his home to try and save his family’s pets. He was able to save his two dogs, but the family’s two cats died. Montcrief was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

The home has been deemed a total loss and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Since the fire, community members have come together to raise donations for the family. So far the GoFundMe has raised over $9,000.

Montcrief’s mother-in-law, Robyn Hume, says, “All these little things added together is making it just a little easier for my children to get on with this.”

If you would like to donate to the cause, click here. Anything that is not needed by the family will be donated to charity.