Community steps up to help volunteer firefighter

NEW JERSEY (WTXF) - For a firefighter getting a call that a house is on fire and needs assistance isn't that unusual but for one 19-year-old volunteer firefighter Mike Metzger this one was because it was his house.

"I called my older sister and she got here first and told me the entire house was on fire," he told FOX 29.

If you've never seen it you're not prepared for the total devastation a fire causes. Mike Metzger and his mother, Brandi, just days later are still coming to terms with the loss.

"Me and my brothers and sisters came home to this house. Home from the hospital, my whole life is here. My grandfather built it and then we moved in and now its just gone."

As word spread that the family had lost everything, something special happened it became clear that they are more appreciated then they could ever know. Local EMT Chief Matt Mills said first responders tend to stick together.

"When you get out there and find out that either its somebody you know from volunteering in the same town as them or especially if its one of your guys, it hits kind of close to home."

Mike's a volunteer firefighter in Franklin Township, New Jersey, he's also a volunteer EMT and trainee in Monroe Township. He's a teen helping everyone, but now he needs help.

"It can be difficult for first responders to ask for help because we're so used to giving the help. We're not use to being on the other side of that."

Several of the men and woman that worked with Mike started a GoFundMe account to help get the family back on their feet. They know firsthand that after a fire like this they may need even the most basic things.

"He's not one to ask for help so we really wanted to do that for him. And just see what we can do for him and his family because they've done so much to help other people out."

Hearing the community trying to help Brandi was touching. Not just by the help but by raising the type of young man that inspires people to want to help.

"Warms my heart that people want to help," she said.

Mike was back answering fire calls the next day and hopefully more will now step up to answer his family's call, for goodness sake.

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