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Air Force Family Recovering After South Jersey Fire

An Air Force couple's family has been living at a military base since a fire destroyed their home in Burlington County.

Site of the Dotsons' house fire.

Site of the Dotsons' house fire.

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

Last Monday, May 15, Bob and Kim Dotson and their two young daughters were displaced by the six-alarm fire.

Bob is a master sergeant and Kim is a captain in the Air Force at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

A neighbor, Jesse Estlow of Woodland Township, organized a GoFundMe to help the family, who lost everything in the fire.

While Kim was coming home from work, Bob awoke on the couch to their family home on fire. 

Bob safely evacuated his two daughters and their dog to the edge of the driveway and kicked in doors in hopes their family cat could escape, Estlow said.

Dozens of first responders fought valiantly to extinguish the flames.

The Dotsons bought the home in December 2020 on assignment to Joint Base MDL and are active members in the Chatsworth community and Chatsworth School where their daughters attend third and sixth grades. 

While the military base was providing temporary living quarters, the family is at "a complete and total loss of everything," Estlow said.

The Dotsons are humbled by the outpouring of support, he said.

Click here to view or donate to the GoFundMe.

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