Municipal workers are rallying around an employee of the Department of Public Works whose home was left uninhabitable by a fire last weekend.
Firefighters extinguish the house fire in Monroe. GFM page photo, courtesy of the Monroe Fire Department
According to a GoFundMe page started by Mose Saccary of the DPW’s Highway Department, a fire started July 12 in Nick Colabella’s Monroe home on the very day the wastewater treatment facility worker was on his way to attend his grandmother’s funeral.
“The fire started in the garage after Nick tried to start his car,” Saccary wrote. “Nick tried to extinguish the fire but could not and called upon the Monroe Fire Department to assist. Nick lived in this house with his wife, two daughters and mother.”
Though no one was injured in the blaze, according to the Connecticut Post, Saccary said that “Nick lost everything in the fire.”
“Clothing, toys for the children, and everyday essentials,” he said. “When such a tragedy strikes one of our own, we need to do whatever we can to help.”
According to the Post, it wasn’t immediately clear how the car started the fire in the attached garage.
As of midday Wednesday, some $1,600 had been raised toward a $10,000 fundraising goal, according to the GFM page. Several of those who donated are recognizable names to New Canaanites, including DPW workers, Town Councilmen, longtime residents, emergency services providers and other municipal employees.
It isn’t clear how long Colabella has been working for the town. Saccary could not immediately be reached for comment.