Salem Fire Displaces Two Families

SALEM, MA — A two-alarm fire in Salem Tuesday left two families homeless, including one with three daughters under the age of 11. On Wednesday, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and other city officials took to Facebook to ask for help for the families. The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem will house the two families through Friday, Driscoll said.

"We're working with the families to better understand their immediate needs. Most pressing will be trying to identify substitute housing for both families," Driscoll said. "Based on conditions at the site, I think it's fair to say they lost most everything due to fire, smoke and/or water damage, so they will need to start fresh with personnel goods as well."

In addition to a GoFundMe page that has been set up, the city is accepting donations for the residents of the multi-family home on Cromwell Street through the Salem Relief Fund. Donations may be made at any Salem Five bank branch or on the city's Website and, unlike GoFundMe, a processing donation is not withheld allowing 100 percent of donations to go to the families.

There were no injuries in the fire, which was reported around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, and a dog that had been reported missing was found safe, hiding in a closet. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Video by Salem Firefighters Local 172.