Crime & Safety

Teen Saves Family From House Fire; Community Rallies To Support

Friends of the Lowe family organized a breakfast benefit to cover fire damage costs

Looking back, one thing 13-year-old James Lowe wishes he had time to grab, after he helped his grandma and 6 year-old brother from their burning home, was a pair of sneakers for his feet.

Waiting outside as emergency personnel arrived to battle the flames and smoke, James was shoeless, thinking instead of the emergency and acting quickly to find help and get his family out of the home.

“My mind was just set on going in there and getting her,” James said of his grandma.

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“I am so proud of him. He’s my little hero,” said Jean Lowe of her son James.

Faced with devastation to their home and possessions, friends have rallied to help the family. Lowe said the help was immediate, and immediately overwhelming.

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“People on the street, they saw James standing there outside the fire shoeless, and offered him shoes, a sweatshirt,” Lowe said. “It was so overwhelming and is still overwhelming.”

The Lowe house in South Toms River, in the family for generations, saw major fire damage March 30 after a space heater malfunction, said South Toms River Council Ed Murray, a friend of the family and baseball coach to James.

Murray always thought of James as a good kid, but admired James’ heroics in saving his family from the fire.

“It was a space heater that shorted out and caught the room on fire,” Murray said. “He tried to use a fire extinguisher, he ran outside, went across the street, had a neighbor call 911, went back into the house, and got his brother and his grandmother out of the house.”

By that time, the flames had consumed the front of the house and were spilling outside. The first arriving officers went around the back and found James helping out his grandmother.

A family cat perished in the blaze, but all the family members escaped and were treated only for smoke inhalation. Another family cat and two pet dogs survived. The family had lost furniture, clothing and other possessions, and they had lost their home — but Lowe said despite the devastation, the community of South Toms River showed they still had a wealth of family and friends who came out in droves to help.

“We have a small, little town with a big heart,” Lowe said. “I’m overwhelmed. I’m so so incredibly grateful.”

They’ve donated shoes for James, clothes for the family, toiletries and more.

Sunday, friends organized a breakfast benefit at Toms River High School South. Local businesses donated bagels, sausage, eggs, rolls; and tables in the cafeteria were filled with a steady stream of friends and family, business members, coaches, local officials and more.

“It was an outpouring,” said Sherrie Boyle, Lowe’s sister. “I’m absolutely, absolutely amazed.”

Murray and David Glazer — who is a neighbor and whose son is best friends with James — helped organize Sunday’s fundraiser. James stayed over the Glazer house so the two boys could still get a bus ride to Toms River Intermediate South for school every day as the family found a more secure place to stay.

“James has always been a kind hearted kid, he always looks out for people,” Glazer said. “This showed me how mature he is, how grown up…what he did, was not expected of him, but I wouldn’t think he’d have done anything less.”

Two days after the fire, Glazer and Murray were already planning the benefit.

“We were knocking on doors, the kids were putting up posters. We just wanted to get the word out,” Murray said.

Boyle said the neighborhood children plastered South Toms River Elementary, Intermediate South and High School South with posters.

“I look around, I may not know the names of everyone here,” Boyle said at the breakfast benefit. “But they all came, they banded together and it impresses me. It’s extraordinary.”

“You don’t think twice about it,” Glazer said. “You just do it, you just help. It’s a no-brainer.”

Glazer saw attendees at Sunday’s benefit give what they could to help out — whether it be a five dollar or fifty dollar bill, or donations of items — and that it all went to the Lowes to help them rebuild their lives.

“We grew up there. It was my family’s house. My grandmother bought it,” said Boyle, who lives next door to her sister. “I think they want to, hopefully, go back. Right now they have a temporary place to live trying to get their lives back together that way.”

The Lowes, renting a house around the corner from their damaged house, have few possessions and are needing kitchen items and furniture. The organizers of Sunday’s benefits are collecting monetary and item donations to further help.

“Every penny goes to them,” Glazer said.

At the breakfast benefit, the cafeteria was filled with smiles and big plates of scrambled eggs and French Toast. James took to hanging out with friends who came, and enjoyed eggs, sausage and bacon.

How does he feel about being called a hero? "Good," he said simply. His mother gave him a hug.

If you wish to donate to the Lowes, contact Glazer at 609-784-4966, or write to Boyle at 31 Annapolis Road, South Toms River, 08757.


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