An Orange County family lost everything they owned on Tuesday, November 29 after an explosion leveled their three-bedroom ranch home in Pine Island. The mom, Denise Kunisch, miraculously escaped the explosion with only minor injuries.
She told local news outlets that a company was working on her septic tank Tuesday afternoon when she smelled an odor in her Walling Road residence. Kunisch was inside the home when the explosion occurred; the force of the blast propelled her into the backyard, where she landed under debris. She was able to climb out of the rubble to free herself. Kunisch suffered burns and bruises, and though in shock, was surprisingly otherwise unhurt, neighbors said. Her husband, Craig, arrived home not long after the incident, and their children were dropped off their bus nearby.
The cause of the blast is being investigated.
The family’s loss, especially so close to the holidays, has been felt deeply in the community. A GoFundMe page has been set up and donations have been pouring in: as of this report, $129,096 had been raised, far surpassing the $50,000 goal. The spirit of giving reverberated across state lines as well. Craig Kunisch and his brother are fourth-generation owners of the Allendale Bar & Grill in Allendale, NJ, and the Allendale Police Department posted calls for donation on its Facebook page not long after word about the explosion had spread.
“By the grace of God all members of the family are safe, but their home has been destroyed,” the Facebook post reads. “Take a moment to make a donation and help them out. Their family has been in Allendale doing the right thing for the community and now the community has a chance to pay that back.”
To find out how you can help the Kunisch family, visit their GoFundMe page here.
