Crime & Safety
Fire Family Update
TE and the Upper Main Line ralliy with compassion, cash and household items to help a young family left homeless. Some items are still needed.
It has been just two weeks since a young local family was completely burned out of their rented home in Malvern. It was a devastating blaze that required firefighters from Radnor to West Chester to fight and provide support to the fire companies on the scene.
In the days since the Upper Main Line has responded with incredible compassion and generosity to help the Duffy family: a mom, dad, toddler and grandmother, get back on their feet and into a new home.
Here's what's been happening:
- The family is expecting to sign a lease on a new rental home in Berwyn Wednesday.  T&E Care made the connection with a new landlord and is providing money for the security deposit.
- More than $10,000 has been donated to the Duffy Family Relief Fund. Â They had no renter's insurance so this is a huge help.
- If you want to send a monetary donation, just drop one off to any teller at either branch of the National Bank of Malvern or mail to: National Bank of Malvern, PO Box 38, Malvern PA 19355. Please make your check payable to 'Duffy Family Relief Fund.' Do not send cash through the mail. (Please note the name of the bank as there are several other local and area banks whose names also include the word "Malvern")
- Many household items have been donated but there is still a need for a few specific items. You can see the list of what they need here on the website set up to help match donors with needs.
- Stay updated on needs and progress of the Diffy family on a Facebook Page created by family friends to help keep everyone on top of what's happening.
Fire Marshal Rules Fire Accidental
While this information is not new, in case you missed it, the Chester County Fire Marshal ruled the cause of the fire as accidental.  The Fire Marshal tells Patch the fire was caused by a faulty electrical cord on an enclosed space heater that used oil to heat the unit. In other words there was no exposed heat coil. However The Fire Marshal says a faulty power cord is believed to have ignited something combustible that it was in contact with or close proximity to the cord.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.