A December 20 fire that caused an estimated $300,000 in damages to an engine-repair business and connected residence owned by John Menezes appeared to have started in the garage near a heater, according to a press release distributed by Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andrew Murray.
There were no injuries as the residential unit was unoccupied at the time, but three people, Trevor McDonald and his six- and four-year-old sons lost everything, according to McDonald’s brother Toby Gonsalves, who explained that McDonald was at work while his younger son was with his grandmother and his older son in school.
“They’re living at our parents’ house with me and my younger brother. It’s a pretty packed house, but we’re making do,” said Gonsalves. “They had just moved in, probably for the last five months or so. The market around here has been pretty tough.” The family’s pet rabbits are also in the care of locally-based relatives.
According to the press release, the Mattapoisett Fire Department was dispatched on Monday at approximately 8:36 am to 3 Church Street Extension. Murray, who told The Wanderer he had passed by the location several minutes before the call and noticed no evidence of trouble, arrived on the scene two minutes after the dispatch call and reported heavy fire and smoke. Engine 1 also arrived at 8:38 am and began suppressing the fire.
A second alarm brought three engines from Mattapoisett, one fire engine from Marion and one fire engine and one ladder from Fairhaven, and the fire chiefs from both neighboring towns responded to assist at the scene. The Rochester Fire Department also responded by sending a fire engine for coverage to the Mattapoisett Fire Station.
An employee of Mattapoisett Power Equipment, the small-engine repair facility at 3 Church Street Extension executed a “stop, drop and roll” maneuver to put out the fire on his clothing. Evaluated at the scene, the employee required no further treatment according to the press release.
Fuels, oil and other flammable materials in the garage added to the challenge of extinguishing “heavy fire” that came from the garage, breezeway and rear of the structure. It took approximately 50 minutes and 22 firefighters to bring the blaze under control. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 12:50 pm.
The Red Cross was immediately called in to assist, and the McDonalds become the beneficiary of gift cards purchased with funds from an anonymous benefactor’s previous donation to the Town of Mattapoisett that was earmarked for assistance in a such a time of need.
Gonsalves, 23, started a GoFundMe account for his older brother, and the McDonald Family Fire Fund account has been set up to receive donations at Eastern Bank in Marion.
“People have been getting in touch with us through friends and family, coming by and dropping stuff off,” said Gonsalves. “It’s unbelievable how the community has come together, we can’t believe it.”
Those wishing to provide financial assistance can visit Eastern Bank, 340 Front Street, in Marion or donate online at: gofundme.com/f/help-trevor-finley-and-theo.
By Mick Colageo and Marilou Newell