Mayor and Somerville Homeless Coalition Activate Emergency Fund for Somerville Fire Victims; Call for Community Donations

You can help. On Sunday, July 6th, 26 people including two minors, as well as pets, were displaced by a fire on Wheatland Street that left two multifamily homes uninhabitable. Fortunately, everyone got out safely, but significant challenges remain for our neighbors who cannot return to their homes. Roughly a dozen City departments and a half-dozen partner agencies mobilized to set up temporary shelter and food, and are actively coordinating ongoing support, but your help is needed for what comes next.  

These residents have been uprooted, and their lives have been turned upside down. Most have lost all or most of their belongings. If you are willing and able, please donate to the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s EMERGENCY FUND to help them get back on their feet. Donations of any size will help.  

The fund is designed to provide immediate relief to the affected residents and will help other neighbors in need as they face future emergencies. Your financial donation will support a range of needs from meals, personal products, and prescriptions to transportation, pet supplies, and temporary and permanent housing supports, and more.    
   
“I want to thank our firefighters for quickly knocking down the fire and protecting lives, and also our emergency response team for coordinating multiple departments and community partners to address a wide range of the fire victims’ needs from housing to food assistance and document replacement, and so much more,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “But fires that wipe out a person’s home and what they own is where the community can really step up to help out their neighbors in a time of such great need. A fund like the Somerville Homeless Coalition Emergency fund can quickly provide the kind of direct support to individuals that makes all the difference in a crisis.” 
 
HOW TO DONATE 

• You can donate at bit.ly/SHCEmergencyFund and select "Emergency Fund" to support these families, students, and residents.
• No donation is too small.  
• Only financial donations are sought at this time.  

Together, we can make a difference. Thank you.  

Official Statement from the Somerville Police Department 

On Sunday afternoon, July 6, at 12:49 p.m., the Somerville Fire Department was notified of a house fire at 81 Wheatland Street. Arriving firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions that had engulfed the rear porches of the three story, occupied dwelling. Fire had also spread to the occupied 2 ½ story home at 85 Wheatland Street and had melted exterior siding on the rear of the house at 78 Fellsway West.  

The fire spread into all floors and the roof of 81 Wheatland Street resulting in extensive damage and the building being uninhabitable. The home at 85 Wheatland Street was also left uninhabitable as firefighters were required to open up walls and ceilings to check for fire spread. Four alarms were sounded due to the high heat and need for additional manpower at the scene. All occupants of both homes were able to escape without any injuries. There were no reported firefighter injuries.  

At least 26 residents have been displaced from both homes. In addition to all Somerville apparatus, Arlington, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford and Revere either responded to the fire or covered Somerville fire stations. Cataldo Ambulance and the Boston Sparks Association assisted at the scene with providing rehab for firefighters. Firefighters responded to this same home on June 20, for a fire involving the third floor front porch, which was the result of improper disposable of smoking materials. The cause of the current fire remains under active investigation by the Somerville Fire, Somerville Police and State Fire Marshal. 

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

If you need assistance translating or understanding this information, please call 311 (617-666-3311) or contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov. The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.