Raymond Community Comes Together To Help Several Fire Victims

RAYMOND, NH — The residents of 24 apartments were forced out of their apartments early Monday morning when a 3-alarm fire destroyed the building they lived in.

The fire spread quickly, causing the roof of the building to collapse. Firefighters did their best to fight the fire, however, most residents lost most of their belongings. Many of the fire victims escaped with only the clothes on their backs and had no time to gather belongings.

The community came together while firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire. Residents of an adjacent apartment building took fire victims into their apartments to keep warm as the fire was being fought.

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Tuckaway Tavern arrived early Monday morning with boxes of sandwiches, food, fruit, drinks, and hot coffee for the firefighters and the victims of the fire.

Raymond Fire Chief Paul Hammond said Selectman Chris Long, who is a former Raymond Fire Explorer, went to Dunkins and bought all the coffee and donuts they had and brought it to the scene for the firefighters and victims of the fire. Hammond said warm coffee and a “sugar rush” can go a long way.

The American Red Cross joined the community and worked with the Exeter Hampton Inn and Suites to arrange accommodations for all the displaced residents.

By early afternoon, Raymond School School Superintendent contacted residents saying the Raymond High School gymnasium will be available as a shelter for all community members affected by a fire.

The gym will remain open for the remainder of the week for all residents and families affected by the fire at the Sunview Apartment complex on Route 27.

The warming center will be open until 10 p.m. every day through Thursday, Feb. 11, and will be open until 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. Phone chargers and internet access will be available for those at the shelter, and movies will be shown for young children. Bathrooms and locker rooms will be available for those in need as well.

Word quickly spread to Raymond residents and surrounding towns about the devastating loss that about 40 people had experienced. By early afternoon lines of people formed outside Raymond High School bringing clothes, and other donations for the fire victims.

Firefighters at the scene of the fire assisted several residents in removing belongings from the apartments on the front side of the building. Most of the items were saturated in water, and smoke but many people were able to salvage personal items such as photos. Firefighters took direction from the residents on what they wanted, and where to locate the items. Several bins and bags full of items were removed.

One firefighter was able to find a pet in a cage and removed it bringing it to the emotional resident.

The residents loaded their vehicles, and many friends showed up to assist in moving the items to a safe location.

Donations, such as spare clothing and socks, will be accepted. Donations of gift cards or other monetary donations for impacted individuals or families also will be accepted at Raymond High School until Friday, Feb. 12 at noon.

Those who desire to donate items that are specifically needed should coordinate with Denise O'Grady, the Welfare Director for the town of Raymond via email at dogrady@raymondnh.gov.

By mid-afternoon two excavators had torn down a large part of the rear of the building, and firefighters continued to douse the hot spots with water. 75 Firefighters fought the fire, and most remained on the scene for extensive overhaul and assisting the residents.

The damage to the building is well over $1 Million and according to Hammond, the likely hood is the building will have to be torn down.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news