Fire destroys Lawrence High School teacher’s home

Firefighters put out the fire on Magnolia Court in Society Hill in Lawrence. Photo: Lawrenceville Fire Co.

A condominium on Magnolia Court in the Society Hill development in Lawrenceville caught on fire on Saturday night, Nov. 19, at about 7 p.m.  Lawrence High School teacher Alyssa Katz lived at the home with her husband, Robert Grumman, and their pets.

Katz, a Spanish teacher, was at a high school function when the fire occurred. She learned about the fire when a former student called her to tell her about it. She  raced home to find her home destroyed. The couple’s pets died in the fire. Most of the items in the home were destroyed.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Community members are raising money to support the couple. A Go Fund Me campaign has been set up. Even though renters insurance will cover most of the losses, it often takes time for settlements to be finalized with insurance companies.