TRENTON- Careless smoking claimed this row house on Jersey Ave. In the morning hours before noon on the 23rd of December The residents left their home for the last time to take a short walk to the corner store that was half a block away. As they where doing their shopping customers walking into the store were talking about a house of fire down the street. Never thinking it came happen to you was short lived when the mother and father walked outside to see their home ablaze. As the call came through Engine 3,Engine 6,7,8,Ladder 4 and Rescue 1 raced to the scene to find a working fire. As Trenton`s finest jumped into action unaware if anyone was still inside. They had to battle the beast starting right at the front door where the fire started. As they tamed the flames the search was on for city citizens. A family of five lived at 19 Jersey ave. for two years, a mother, Father and three children in school at the time of the blaze.As the mother & father looked on from outside their four animals were still stuck inside. One by one the brave firefighters brought the animals out unharmed. Two dogs and two cats where lucky to be alive if not for the courage of the Trenton Fire Department. The house was a total including all inside. They only had what was left on their backs.  The red cross was called to the scene and put the family of five up in the Marriot in Trenton for the night. Donations came pouring in at almost all the firehouse in Trenton.  Images By Mike Morrell