Town Responds to Needs of Residents Displaced by Fire

By Adam Swift

Town leaders and residents came together in the wake of a massive fire that displaced over 100 people on Veterans Road on Friday, April 21.

Four residents were transported to local hospitals as a result of the fire, one for facial burns and three for smoke inhalation, according to Town Council President James Letterie. All four were treated and released.

During Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, Letterie praised those who worked together to contain the fire, help those displaced residents, and outlined the continuing efforts in the town to provide relief.

“Our police and fire departments are to be commended for their quick response and hard work to protect the residents who reside at the Executive Apartments at 91 Veterans Road,” said Letterie. “After the fire was put out, the residents were faced with the unenviable truth that 64 apartment units were no longer available, they had nowhere to live.”

Thanks to the quick response of Winthrop public safety officials, Letterie said the Senior Center was opened for displaced residents and the Red Cross was notified.

“Winthrop’s Medical Reserve Corps was an incredible resource at the Senior Center,” said Letterie.

For the remainder of the day of the fire and the next day, Letterie said the owner of the building and the property manager worked with town officials and the Red Cross to make sure the affected families were placed in a hotel for the weekend, along with debit cards from the Red Cross to cover the cost of meals.

“The building owner and property manager extended the stays to cover their stays for the remainder of the week through Friday the 28th,” said Letterie. “During that week, the town of Winthrop was in contact with all of the families, along with MEMA, to coordinate an available resource event on Friday the 28th.”

A number of state agencies were on hand to let residents know about available resources, and the town’s health department coordinated with local landlords to identify available housing in the town.

Through the Winthrop Foundation and other local organizations, Letterie added that the town was able to secure hotel rooms at local hotels for the families for an additional two weeks for 25 families that had not yet found another apartment. As of Tuesday, Town Manager Tony Marino said the number of families still in need of another apartment was down to about 15.

Letterie said the response helped show what an incredible town Winthrop is and how quickly it comes to the aid of those in need. Several of the other councilors thanked Marino and town officials for the role they continue to play in helping the displaced residents and dealing with the aftermath of the fire. Marino was quick to point out that it was a town-wide effort that extended far beyond his office