Nahant establishes relief fund for fire victims

NAHANT – Nahanters are rallying after a July 12 fire, establishing an account for financial donations and organizing a family picnic fundraiser to help victims of the early-morning blaze.”We think this is the right thing to do, and we’re going to try and help them out the best we can,” said Town Hall Administrative Assistant Katie Costin on Friday.Fire and police officials said that approximately 20 residents and their guests were safe but left temporarily homeless in the two-alarm incident reported at approximately 4 a.m. Tuesday at The Anchorage apartments on Sherman Avenue. The four-story building contained 11 apartments, all of which suffered varying degrees of some smoke and / or water damage, Nahant Fire Chief Edward Hyde said. Investigators earlier in the week said the fire was caused by a cigarette on a second-floor deck, but Hyde said Friday that the cause of the fire is still officially under investigation by the state fire marshal.Hyde also said the fire could have been a lot worse in the “extremely tight and congested” neighborhood.”I can’t say enough how good of a job (everybody) did,” said Hyde on Friday. In addition to praising the local firefighters and police who immediately responded to the scene, he offered “sincere thanks” to firefighters from Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Lynnfield and Revere who provided additional support both at the fire and at the station.”We train for situations like that – it’s a major concern having that area, that building, and that time of morning when a lot of cars are parked on the street and residents are asleep ? I think another 15 minutes or half-hour” would have led to other houses catching on fire, Hyde said.But the work didn’t end once the fire was extinguished.Since the blaze, Police Lieutenant Thomas Hutton and Police Chief Robert Dwyer have been working the phones to find housing for those displaced by the blaze. Hutton reported that all but one of the building’s residents have found some type of temporary housing with help from the Nahant Housing Authority, local residents and friends and family.Now other Nahant citizens can offer their help.On Friday, Town Hall established an Anchorage Victims Relief Fund at Equitable Bank on 28 Nahant Road, where residents can make cash donations to those who lost items in the fire, said Costin. People can also drop off gift cards at Town Hall, Costin added. Meanwhile, plans are in the works for a Family Picnic with live entertainment and raffles on Sunday, Aug. 7 at Bailey’s Hill, she said.”Nahanters take care of their people; they do and they will,” Hutton said of the efforts. “That’s the way it’s been for all these years.”Indeed, building owner Joe Moccia – who said he hopes to welcome tenants back to the building within two months – said that the community support was evident immediately. Neighbors brought coffee, slippers, blankets, and opened their homes and bathrooms to the fire victims watching the ashes smolder Tuesday, he said.”The fire department, police, the community really came together,” Moccia said. “The tenants said they will love living there even more now because they feel so safe because the neighbors have been so caring.”Those interested in helping fire victims can make a donation to the Anchorage Victims’ Relief Fund at Equitable Bank, 28 Nahant Road. Checks made out to the fund may also be dropped off or sent to Town Hall c/o Katie Costin. For more information, call Costin at Town Hall at 781-581-9927.