ATHOL — The Salvation Army Athol Corps is establishing a way people can make donations to help the victims of the fire that destroyed a multi-family home and sent five people to the hospital on April 18.
Salvation Army Lt. Michael Buzzard said this week the organization will contact former residents of 275 Hapgood St. and determine their specific needs. He said donated money will be used to meet those needs.
Buzzard said anyone willing to donate can stop by the Salvation Army at 107 Ridge St. in Athol or contact him at 978-249-8111 or Michael.buzzard@use.salvationarmy.org.
Buzzard said the Salvation Arm assisted four tenants affected by the fire and is helping one with shelter. He said all were provided with vouchers for the Salvation Army’s clothing store in Gardner and food.
Besides helping the fire victims, he said the corps purchased more than 250 items from McDonald’s and four large pizzas and water from the Athol House of Pizza Restaurant for the more than 60 emergency first responders at the scene on April 18.
Athol Fire Chief John Duguay said the fire departments of at least Orange, Phillipston, Gardner, Templeton and Petersham assisted. Greenfield Ambulance, Turners Falls Ambulance and Wood’s Ambulance were also on scene at the fire.
While the state Department of Fire Services knows the blaze started in a second-floor living room, Jennifer Mieth, fire services spokeswoman, said in an email Tuesday that because the home had to be torn down so firefighters could battle hidden flames within the building, “there can be no forensic examination of the fire scene to determine the area or point of origin. Without that, there can be no definitive cause determination.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258. On Twitter: @DomenicPoli