ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A couple is picking up the pieces after a fire devastated the Elizabeth Township home they’d had for less than a year.
They’re both McKeesport elementary school teachers and got the call while at work.
Husband and gym teacher Jordan DeMarco tells Channel 11 that he and his wife are bouncing from place to place, staying overnight until they can find somewhere permanent.
“I kinda just dropped everything I was doing and ran out,” DeMarco said.
DeMarco was in the middle of teaching fifth-grade gym class at McKeesport’s elementary school when he got a call that his home was on fire. His wife, Makayla teaches kindergarten at the same school.
“I didn’t even go up and tell my wife, she’s a kindergarten teacher. I didn’t want to scare her. It’s a little bit different when she has kindergarteners and I have fifth graders,” DeMarco said.
When he got to his house in Elizabeth Township on Tuesday, he found it up in flames.
The couple’s dog, Blue, didn’t make it out.
“That’s the first thing that went through my mind. I was like ‘God, I just hope she’s alright,” DeMarco said.
The smoke alarm inside the couple’s home was still blaring when DeMarco was finally able to take a look inside.
The newlyweds had only been living in the home for less than a year.
“You just try to take it day by day, really. You try not to get wrapped up in the emotions of it, but it’s an emotional event. She’s being as strong as I can and I’m just trying to take care of business,” DeMarco said.
His hope is that they’ll soon be back in the classroom.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the couple. Click here if you would like to donate.
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