Comcast waives fees for Shelton fire victims

SHELTON - Today, in response to a request by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, cable provider Comcast agreed to waive fees on damaged or destroyed cable equipment for their active customers affected by the massive fire that destroyed an apartment building downtown Jan 6. 

Murphy and Blumenthal released the following statement:

"We applaud Comcast for moving quickly to help families displaced by the terrible fire in Shelton. Many of these families lost everything they owned in this awful disaster, and Comcast waiving these fees will now be money saved for other items as these people work to recover from the blaze. 
"We’re glad that we were able to help facilitate this quick resolution so these residents have one less thing to worry about as they take on the daunting task of getting their lives back to normal.
"We’ll continue to work with those affected to offer any other assistance that we can to help."


This is a press release from Murphy's office.

Spirit of community seen in Shelton

Donations are being sorted and distributed in this storefront on Center Street.

SHELTON - Since the Jan. 6 fire that destroyed a block of businesses and three stories of apartments on Howe Avenue nonprofit organizations, companies, and individuals have come together to help the displaced residents and store owners.

It is truly heartwarming to see something good come out of what can only be described as a  downtown disaster.


From individuals donating food, clothing, household supplies and money, to volunteers handling the massive amount of donations there is a spirit of caring that cannot go unnoticed.

On Monday I met Stratford resident Missy Samaha, who has taken charge of the donations.
She, several friends and a crew of Shelton firefighters have been working tirelessly to assist the 29 residents of the apartment building that was leveled.

They have set up "shop" at 91 Center St. in a storefront owned by firefighter Chris Jones. There, volunteers and victims have become what they call "a new family."

Samaha said residents who lost all their belongings have a chance to socialize at the shop while picking up whatever they need to get their lives back to normal.

These are wish lists posted in the shop. The fire victims need to replace everything they owned,  from TVs and cell phones, to work boots and more.

 

Missy Samaha Monday checks the expiration date on canned food donations. With her is volunteer Todd Dias, who said he lives on Howe Avenue and has been helping since the blaze.

Just some of the donated toiletries available for the displaced residents. 

This is an offer from the Friends of the Shelton Libraries for free books to help fire victims replace what they have lost.


Samaha said donations of gift cards to supermarkets and stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, The Home Depot and Lowe's, in addition to gas cards, would be a great help.


I wish her and her fellow volunteers all the best as they continue to help the displaced residents. 

Victims of Shelton blaze get some good news

Low-interest SBA disaster loans available

SHELTON - A press conference Saturday at Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 firehouse brought a glimmer of hope to business owners and tenants affected by the massive Jan. 6 blaze downtown.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Saturday announced approval of Small Business Administration disaster loans for businesses and residents affected by a Jan. 6 fire on Howe Avenue. He made the announcement at Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 firehouse in Shelton. With him are, from left, U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, Lt. Gov. Nancy S. Wyman, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, and Bernard M. Sweeney, SBA Connecticut district director.  

 

Mayor Mark A. Lauretti  said opportunity will come out of the tragedy. "When one door closes, another one opens," he said. 

 Malloy meets with Echo Hose firefighter and training coordinator Kevin Lantowsky, center,   and firefighter Chris Jones before the press conference. 

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, greets Shelton resident Michele Bialek and her daughter, Bridget, 3, before the press conference. 
Bialek and her husband, Fred Bialek, own Liquid Lunch, which was destroyed by the fire. The Bialeks operate two other Liquid Lunch locations, but she said they lost "a third of their heart" in the blaze.

Shelton man found in Howe Avenue fire identified

By Charlotte Adinolfi, The New Haven Register

Posted: 01/23/14, 10:37 AM EST |

 

SHELTON >> The man who was found during a fire in the first-floor apartment of 593 Howe Ave. Wednesday night has died, according to fire officials.

Fire Marshal Jim Tortora said that Michael Boroski, 52, died Thursday morning after being taken to the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit, following his removal from the burning building Wednesday evening.
Tortora said he is uncertain of the cause of death but Boroski was the only occupant in the first-floor apartment where the first started in the living room.

Firefighters had responded to the scene just after 5 p.m. Wednesday and found flames coming out the rear window of the first floor unit.

Tortora said a firefighter who happened to be near the address at the time helped the three occupants of the second-floor apartment escape safely before firefighters arrived, and the occupant of the basement apartment was not home at the time.

When firefighters entered the home, they found Boroski semi-conscious on the floor of the apartment. He was immediately taken to a waiting ambulance outside. The fire was under control within 20 minutes.

Tortora said the state Fire Marshal and the Shelton Police Department had been called in to help investigate, and they were on the scene until around 12:30 a.m. Thursday. Fire officials believe the cause of the fire was reckless use of smoking materials.

Tortora said all the occupants of the residence are staying with family or friends.

Report: Shelton building fire injures 5, displaces 30

By staff and wire reports

Posted: 01/06/14, 1:00 AM EST | Updated: 33 secs ago

WTNH Photo

SHELTON >> At least 5 people were taken to the hospital and about 30 displaced following an overnight fire that partially collapsed a four-story building on Howe Avenue, WTNH reports.

The three-alarm fire broke out at around 12:30 a.m. Monday in the basement of the building located at 446 Howe Ave. People were trapped inside when firefighters arrived and had to be rescued from the windows.

Authorities believe everyone got out before the top floors collapsed into the middle of the building.
Emergency crews from several towns assisted. Officials say they were forced to bring water to the scene in tanker trucks because hydrants weren’t working due to a water main break. A fire truck was damaged during the collapse.

The building housed businesses on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Read more.