Friends Of Fire Victims Start Fundraising Campaign

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Friends of a Mahopac family who lost all their belongings in a fire Thursday evening have started a GoFundMe campaign.

Mahopac Falls firefighters were called out for the fire on Geymer Drive at 7:17 p.m. While its cause is still under investigation, friends have started raising money to help community member Marianne Chaluisan and her family. So far the fund has reached $26,200 raised of its goal, which now is $35,000.

"Wow, we reached our second goal. I am thrilled but not surprised at the way this community comes out to help one of their own," said fundraising organizer Scott Reing on GoFundMe. "After talking to Marianne I am increasing the goal again. It will be many many months before insurance will make a dent. Thank you!"

The fire was intense. On his way there, 1st Assistant Chief Robert Trace could see heavy smoke from half a mile away and transmitted a second alarm when he arrived, fire officials said.

The first arriving companies arrived within five minutes of the initial dispatch to find heavy fire on the front and side of the 2-story wood frame ranch and engulfing an unoccupied car parked outside.

Crews performed an aggressive interior attack in an attempt to suppress the blaze, fire officials said.

A firefighter and a civilian refused medical attention at the scene.

The home sustained significant heat and smoke damage throughout and was deemed uninhabitable, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is being probed by the Putnam County Fire Investigation Team.

Mutual aid was provided by Putnam Valley FAS Team, Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, and Mohegan Fire Department at the scene; Somers Vol. Fire Department provided in quarters coverage for MFVFD, and Carmel Volunteer Fire Department provided coverage for Mahopac while they were there.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in a suburban area such as Mahopac Falls, it can take 10 minutes for a volunteer fire department to respond and arrive with minimum staff. "On behalf of Assistant Chief Trace, we would like to thank the dedicated members who were able to be on scene within 5 minutes," Mahopac Falls fire officials said.

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