Family Needs Help After Everything Lost to Plaistow, NH, Condo Fire

A GoFundMe fund has been created to help a Plaistow family that lost everything in a wind-whipped condo fire.

The fire inside one of four units in a building on Newton Road broke out around 2:40 p.m. on December 2. While the Plaistow Fire Department and other departments brought the fire under control in 34 minutes and kept it contained to the one unit, it was enough time to destroy everything inside.

Popping noises could be heard in the department's video of the fire.

"The Ward Family has experienced a profound loss of their home and personal property due to an unexpected fire. They are all grateful to be safe and unharmed but are unable to recover their belongings or return to the home that they shared," organizers Denise Courtney and Kristina Webber wrote on the page.

Lucinda Ward told the Eagle-Tribune she got out of the condo with her dog, purse, and clothes she was wearing.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, the Plaistow Lions Club and Plaistow Community Cares have placed blue bins at the fire department on Elm Street for donations of everyday items like coats, clothing, and toiletries. Gift cards have also been donated.

The family is looking for a permanent housing option while temporarily staying with family and friends. Ward told the Eagle-Tribune she hopes to stay in the Timberlane district so her son can continue to attend his middle school.

The Plaistow Fire Department said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Ward told the Eagle Tribune that the fire started after she used her dryer. She was able to put out some small flames, but they flared up again and spread to the washer.

It was the Plaistow Fire Department's 47th fire of the year. 19 of the fires were building fires.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH