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Couple receives tons of support after losing home in fire

Fallbrook locals Joel and Laurel Towart lost their home to a large fire in Fallbrook recently.

Fallbrook locals Joel and Laurel Towart lost their home to a large fire in Fallbrook recently.

The fire, which is still being investigated, started from propane gas and engulfed the house. The Towarts were only able to get out with their car keys, wallet and purse and their dog.

"We were sitting in the library and we heard a window crash and it sounded like somebody threw a brick through it," Joel Towart said. "I went out in the kitchen to see what was going on and there was just a wall of flames."

Since the fire happened, the Towarts have moved into their garage on-site, not attached to the house as it remained untouched by flames. They've recently hooked up electricity and water to it.

Dawnett Ingrassi, who owns Got Gold Coin and Pawn in Fallbrook with her boyfriend, has known the family for 30 years.

Ingrassi posted pictures of the house after the fire was put out on a community group on Facebook, and the Fallbrook community rallied around them in support.

"It got approved first thing Saturday morning I think it was, and I would say by 8 o'clock Saturday morning I had people here with car loads of stuff," Ingrassi said. "Kahoots Pet Store supplied a bag of dog food and a bed; Major Market came through with some gift certificates for their store."

Ingrassi said that Thai Thai Restaurant, Jersey Mike's and Great China helped as well.

"Joel, the gentleman whose house burned – one of his favorite places to go is the Coffee, Corks and Cuisine," Ingrassi said. "He meets his car club there, and they knew who he was and so they gave a very substantial gift certificate there."

Java Time Coffee Shop and Pedro's Tacos helped also.

"It was kind of helpful because I actually deliver for DoorDash as well, and so all these restaurants that I went to are all the restaurants I deliver for," Ingrassi said, who has been helping deliver donations to the house for the family. "It was really neat to see them come through. I didn't expect them to come through as well as they did."

Shortly after the house burned down, the Towarts were robbed.

"Someone cut the lock on the gate and came in and stole some tools out of the garage," Joel Towart said. "It's just (adding) insult to injury."

"I was just devastated," Ingrassi said when she'd heard the news of them being robbed.

"We were very fortunate cause I was there the night before; we had pretty much secured a good majority of that stuff (donations)," she said.

The Fallbrook community, even after the robbery, has continued to show support.

"I could not get over the amount of people that came through and are still coming through," Ingrassi said. "They supplied clothes, a CPAP machine which I was very concerned that we wouldn't be able to get for him, a refrigerator, a couch and loveseat.

"A lot of people came through with gift cards, Visa gift cards, Albertson gift cards, some more Major Market and Joe's Hardware," Ingrassi said. "We had one gentleman; he donated three big totes full of clothes that will fit him and had two ladies come in and they literally went to Ross and just bought a whole bunch of stuff for them."

The Towarts said they have been amazed by the support.

"We had probably two pickup truck loads and that was the initial carry off, and after that things just kept coming and coming," Joel Towart said. "They donated money – they donated Home Depot gift cards and food gift cards; the fire department gave us a gift card, Red Cross came and gave us a gift card and just the outpour was amazing."

Joel Towart said that he's never had the opportunity to witness something like this outpouring before.

"The generosity of people, the kindness," Joel Towart said. "It's way beyond my expectations. It's just something that I had no idea would happen, but it sure makes you love Fallbrook."

Lexington Howe can be reached by email at [email protected].

 

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