How to Help Sandy Hook Family Displaced by Fire

How to Help

New info (as of March 29) on how to help the family displaced by the fire on Berkshire Road.

A donation drop off center has been set up at the Newtown Youth Academy for the next week for clothing. There are boxes in the lobby. If people have gift cards they can email me: patdanlan@earthlink.net

• The mom's shoe size is an 8
• The dad's shoe is a size 13
• Kids girl size 2  shoe
• Kids boy size 1 shoe
• Baby boy size 7 shoe

A fund has also been set up for the Barth family. Checks should be made out to St. Rose Church and in the memo line please write BARTH fund. Checks should be mailed to:

St Rose Church ℅ Lansing
46 Church Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470

To donate online, friends have set up this account at GoFundMe.com.

Fire Displaces Sandy Hook Family

After a house fire on Berkshire Road in Sandy Hook displaced a family of five and a lodger, friends and community members are rallying to help out.

The fire broke out sometime Wednesday afternoon, according to Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead. Halstead said the house was "still standing, but the whole side was gutted." Firefighters from Newtown, Monroe, Brookfield, Oxford and Soutbury responded to the blaze.

The parents and their three young children are staying in a hotel for the short term, according to family friends. American Red Cross officials announced Wednesday night they were providing emergency food and clothing needs as well. The Red Cross also provided toiletries and stuffed animals for children, according to officials.

Family friend Terry Bower told Patch his son is friends with one of the children displaced by the fire.

"Anything that family needs, we're here for them," he said.

Parents met Wednesday night to mobilize a way to help and are setting up a plan for donations to make sure all needs are met, according to one Patch commenter.

Family friends say clothes are the most pressing need at the moment. In lieu of clothes, gift cards are suggested.

"They need everything," said Patti Lansing, who said the family has asked her to act as a point of contact for donations. "But the main concern is that they don't have anywhere to put it right now."

To donate:

• Contact Patti Lansing at patdanlan@earthlink.net

Lansing is collecting clothes and gift cards for the family. She says she is arranging meetings in Newtown to pick up donations and encourages anyone interested to contact her at the above address.

On Thursday, she will be at St. Rose of Lima Church at noon and the Newtown Youth Academy at 4:30 p.m. to receive donations.

• Additionally, Christine Dennison Wilford has reached out to Patch on Facebook and is welcoming donations of clothing and toiletries for the family. She can be reached at thewilfordfamily@gmail.com

Sizes:

• Boys 3T and 7
• Girls 10
• Ladies 10
• Mens XL, 36 x 34

Another adult, a lodger in the house, is also displaced, according to a family member. Friends report he needs clothes as well, and gift cards are also encouraged.

• Pants: 36/36
• Shirts/sweatshirts: Large/tall
• Size 12/13 shoes and sneakers
• He could use a coat, all of his were lost in the fire: Size Large Tall.

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Original story:

Update: 9:10 p.m.

Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue Chief Bill Halstead says a firefighter was hospitalized after battling a blaze that gutted a Berkshire Avenue home, but is expected to recover.

"He's doing okay," said Halstead. "Probably a little overexertion -- but from what they said, he's going to be released."

Another firefighter injured his back during the response, Halstead says, but was treated at the scene.

No one was home during the blaze, which started sometime in the mid-afternoon. Firefighters believe the fire started in the basement. Halstead says the house is likely beyond repair.

"It's still standing but the whole side is gutted," he said. "I believe the house will probably have to be taken down."

Traffic re-opened between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Berkshire Road. At about 7:30, an emergency restoration crew was working to patch the house.

Update, 6:54 p.m.

Sandy Hook fire department staff told Patch firefighters are returning from the scene of the fire.

Update, 5:14 p.m. March 27

Firefighters from Monroe, Oxford and Southbury Fire Departments are on scene alongside Newtown companies. Brookfield Fire Department members are on the way.

Original post, 4:53 p.m. March 27

Firefighters are responding to reports of a fire at 254 Berkshire Road. According to police, a portion of the road is closed due to downed wires.

Flames and heavy smoke are visible from the road. At least two fire vehicles are on scene. There is no word on injuries.

Patch is on the scene and will update as more information becomes available.