After The Fire, Picking Up The Pieces

It's almost 24 hours now since yesterday's devastating, four-alarm Springfield fire was declared under control. Affected residents are beginning the slow process of sorting what's salvageable and mourning what's irretrievably lost. They're picking up the pieces.

The building at 65 Forest Drive seems to be a total loss. This afternoon, in the middle of a beautiful mid-summer day, it sits burnt out and boarded up, yellow police tape strung around the lawn.

Patch spoke to a few residents who were trying to find some items that were smoke or water-free.  Jamie and Josh Allen lived in a ground floor apartment that suffered severe smoke damage. "Thank God for renter's insurance" Jamie said.  "Even if we can come back, we're not sure how they could possibly rebuild the building. I just happened to be home when the fire started, I grabbed my medications and ran out of the building.

"Josh dashed back in and saved our wedding album and Ketuba and Louis, our parakeet" She added, "We're staying with my parents in South Orange, for the time being. I'm not sure where we're going to wind up."

Jamie Allen's Aunt, Linda Izzi is a neighbor in the complex.  She said, "I was out doing errands. When I saw the smoke, I rushed right over to see if I could help."

Another neighbor, Cadine Gray, is a Newark elementary school teacher. She said that "I got a message to call my husband, that there was smoke in the area of my apartment. (Gray's apartment is in another building in the complex.)  I was upset, my kids were upset for me, too. "

Ben Zibergeld was in the front yard salvaging items from his apartment.  Zibergeld's cat, Clover, was rescued from the burning building by a Roselle firefighter. Both he and his wife, Jana, offer gratitude and thanks for the bravery of that firefighter.