Community Rallies Around Families Displaced By Fire In Hamden

Hamden CT

17 February, 2022

12:39 AM

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HAMDEN, CT — The community is rallying around the families that were displaced from their home after Monday night's three-alarm fire that destroyed a 22-unit apartment building at 42 Warner Street in Hamden. Mayor Lauren Garrett said in an update Wednesday that 60 residents are "without homes and their personal belongings were destroyed." Garrett said the Clarion Inn has been an "amazing community partner, and through our partnership, all families were provided rooms." "The managers, Brian and Megan, came to Keefe Monday night to help place people," Garrett said in a news release. "Councilman Abdul Osmanu was on hand last night to help gather food for people, while Councilman Adrian Webber and State Representative Robyn Porter helped collect requests for clothes and supplies." The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire Marshal Brian Dolan told the New Haven Register that the fire is believed to have started in one unit. Dolan said several pets that were living in that unit, including a dog, rabbit, two bearded dragons and two tanks' worth of fish, are believed to have died in the fire, according to the Register. The owners weren't home at the time of the fire. The Register reported that firefighters did manage to rescue two dogs from the fire and reunite them with their owners. Garrett announced Tuesday night that the town has put a secure donation link on the town website, so "we can come together as a community of support" for the families affected by the fire. Visit the link here. The town also compiled the following list of requests for specific items the affected families need: Gently used/new clothes, all sizes; specifically: 2T clothes 3T clothes Medium sweatpants 7/8 pants 14/16 pants 32/30 pants 32 pants Gently used/new jackets and hoodies, all sizes; specifically: XXXXL jacket New underwear and socks; specifically: Boxers, sizes large-XXL Underwear, sizes 2T-XXXL New footwear; specifically: Size 7 toddler shoes Size 7.5 shoes Size 8 shoes Size 9 ½ shoes Size 10 shoes Size 11 shoes Hygiene items; specifically: Wipes Diapers Pull ups Floss Tampons Pads Body Wash Deodorant Other Items: Art supplies New toys for ages 2-12 Apple phone chargers Snack food Water Juice boxes Gift cards Anyone wishing to make a donation can drop the items off at the Keefe Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 18. Items can also be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at the Clarion Hotel, 2260 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Items will be given out on Tuesday, Feb. 22. "It meant so much to me to see these families Monday night at the fire and then as they were being processed by Community Services and the Red Cross at Keefe," Garrett said. "I stopped by Keefe again yesterday as more people came through, and we went to the Clarion Inn yesterday evening. "We are doing everything we can to help them get back on their feet. My heart goes out to the families impacted by the fire." For more information, contact AnneMarie Karavas in Community Services at Keefe Community Center at 203-562-5129 ext. 1110 or email [email protected].