Fundraisers Spring Up For 2 Families Left Homeless After Fire

Elliot and Janice Mitchell were home getting ready for bed Friday night around 11 when Elliot – Mitch – thought he smelled smoke. Janice checked it out and finding nothing, they went to bed. But 10 minutes later, Janice was up again. She smelled something now. Sure enough, in a room just recently vacated by their young grandchild, she found fire in the ceiling. 

The Mitchells lived in a house on Devil's Foot Road, in a basement apartment. The fire had started in the first floor apartment. 

Janice yelled, "Fire!" and ran to help Mitch, who has Parkinson's and is unable to move without assistance. She got the attention of the neighbor upstairs, Scott Hurd, and pulled Mitch outside and across the yard. Scott, meanwhile, got out with his young child. Janice wanted to go back to get their cat, but realized she couldn't. (Happily, the cat did escape.) 

Everyone got out safely, but the house has been condemned. 

The Mitchells have moved in with family members. They did not have rental insurance. 

"They just need to replace everything," said Anthea Cabral, Janice and Mitch's daughter.

The Red Cross gave the residents some money to see them through the first days. But friends and family have started fundraisers to help both the Mitchells and the Hurds.

If you'd like to contribute, you can donate to a fund for the Mitchells here. 

To help Scott Hurd, donations are being collected at Gillian's Ale House, 7835 Post Rd., NK, RI 02852.