Fatal pg 1 1-31-13
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Aftermath
This is what remains of 6 Prospect St., Putnam, after a devastating fire Jan. 22. The second floor wall and the third floor had to be stabilized by carpenters before crews could safety search the third floor and recover the two young sisters who perished. Linda Lemmon photo.
Fire dept.
offers safety
open house
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- After the heart-wrenching loss of two little girls in a fire last week, the Putnam Fire Department is redoubling its efforts to make each home safer.
Norm Perron, the town fire marshal and assistant fire chief, said the Putnam Fire Department will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 at the fire station on Church Street.
Members of the department, still devastated by the fatal fire Jan. 22 on Prospect Street, will be offering home fire safety lessons including fire drills plus information on smoke detectors, heaters, disposal of ashes, and more. Perron said the department will also be giving away free smoke detectors. Perron said the safety lessons are important for every family to remember and to incorporate into their lives. "I can go into any multifamily house, open smoke detectors and find no batteries," he said. "I went to a building on a call for a malfunctioning wall heater and found portable electric heaters by a bed." One recent fire resulted after a homeowner disposed of the contents of an ash tray into the trash. Perron said "he was sure the ashes were out. No they were not."
The fire call came in at 12:40 a.m. and 30 firefighters from the Putnam Fire Department responded, as did East Putnam on mutual aid, Dayville at the scene, the Community Fire Department Rapid Intervention (rescue) Team from Thompson. In addition Woodstock was on standby at the Putnam Fire Department station, Perron said.
Perron said the fire started on the third floor, in the bedroom where Alexis Lynn Marie Auger, 3, and her infant sister, Ava Nicole Marie Auger were sleeping.
The third floor was heavily damaged and the roof caved in. The cause of the fire is accidental/undetermined and the investigation continues, Perron said.
Many families were displaced. If you'd like to: Donations can be made to the "Prospect Street Fire Fund," c/o Putnam Bank and can be dropped off at any branch of Putnam Bank or at WINY, 45 Pomfret St., Putnam. Clothes and furniture can be dropped off at Chace Building Supply, Route 171, in Woodstock from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.