Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

For Immediate Release, December 8, 2007

Mayor Assembles State, Local Officials to Provide Aid to Families Made Homeless by Recent Fire

Officials to Meet with Fire Victims at noon Mayor James J. Fiorentini today called a meeting of State, local and private officials to provide a co-ordinate effort to assist victims of the recent fire in Haverhill.

The meeting will be help at the Citizens Center, Welcome Street in Haverhill at 11:30 am.

The Mayor has assembled officials from the State Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Community Affairs, Massachusetts Emergency Management, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Haverhill Housing Authority, Haverhill Police Department, Haverhill Emergency Management, and other State, local and private agencies.

The Mayor has asked all the agencies to come together at 11:30 to coordinate efforts, followed by a meeting with the families affected by the fire at 12 noon also at the Citizens Center.

The Mayor has asked all agencies that can provide assistance to attend the meeting so that every person made homeless by the fire is aware of the resources available to them.

The Mayor said in a statement:

“About 31 families in our city were made homeless by this fire. Many of them lost everything they have, all their food, clothing, furniture, toys and every worldly possession. We are moved and struck by this tragedy and intend to do whatever we can to assist. Our goal to get all the victims back to a normal life as quickly as possible.

We have agencies that will provide housing vouchers, food vouchers, and we are coordinating efforts to find a new place for them.

Public contributions are also needed. Please contribute to the 94 Emerson Street Victim Relief Fund, care of the Haverhill Bank in Haverhill. More details on how to contribute are available on the city web site, http://www.ci.haverhill.ma.us/.”

The Mayor also praised the fire department and other local officials for their work in making certain that this tragedy was not even larger. “Our fire department did a fantastic job in arriving quickly at the scene, rescuing several of the people, and in securing and saving the building next door. Without their hard work, this tragedy would have been much worse. Our emergency management and citizens center workers were up in the middle of the night working with the Red Cross and Salvation Army to provide emergency shelter and food. Private people have come forward and offered to apartments, food and clothing, and all throughout the community, people have rushed to help. I am proud to be the Mayor of such a caring community.”