Community Rallies Around Cheshire Family After Fire Destroys Home

CHESHIRE, CT — The community is rallying around a Cheshire family whose home was destroyed in a fire over the weekend. The four residents made it out safely, but unfortunately, the family cat Kiara was killed in the fire, according to a GoFundMe page that was created to help the family rebuild.

Emergency crews responded to an active fire at 171 Payne Drive at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 9. Cheshire firefighters, working with assistance from the Southington Fire Department, were able to get the fire extinguished and under control within 30 minutes of arrival, according to officials. (To sign up for Cheshire breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Aryn Forman launched the “Forman Family Housefire Fund” on GoFundMe after many people reached out asking how they could help. More than $3,700 has been raised since the account was created on July 10.

“While we stood there my dad said that even though people always say stuff is just stuff, until you watch that stuff burn up in front of you, you don't know if you really mean it,” Aryn Forman wrote on the GoFundMe page. “If you know my dad, you will know that he meant it, it's just stuff. However, I can tell you that it's also more than just stuff. It's memories and mementos and it's a house that will never be our home again.”

Read more at the GoFundMe page here.

Photo via “Forman Family Housefire Fund” on GoFundMe