For those individuals, agencies and businesses interested in
helping the families affected by the fire that destroyed four homes
at the top of Kennedy Street on Thursday – there is still time.

Christopher M. Sotir, office manager at Northwest Savings Bank,
said Monday a savings account, the Kennedy Street Fire Relief Fund,
has been established to allow members of the community to donate
cash assistance to the four families who lost everything in the
fire.

Sotir said the account was set up by anonymous community members
and those interested in donating can stop in to any Northwest
branch or mail their donation directly to his office -ð85 W.
Washington St., P.O. Box 352, Bradford, Pa., 16701.

The account will be available until the end of September, at
which time the proceeds will be divided evenly between the four
families, Sotir said.

Checks should be made payable to the Kennedy Street Fire Relief
Fund.

Sotir went on to say several local businesses and service
organizations have already been inquiring about how they can
help.

“There’s a buzz even just from people coming in (to do their
banking) and talking, asking ‘What can we do?'” Sotir said.

Casey Bucher with the local chapter of the American Red Cross,
said Monday the Red Cross has already provided each family with
ways to purchase food, clothing, prescriptions, eyeglasses and
shelter, if needed.

“The outpouring from the community has been tremendous,” Bucher
said, adding locals have been calling with various items for the
fire victims. He said the Red Cross catalogs who has what
available, and then refers the victims to the donors based on their
needs and availability.

“At this point, they haven’t contacted us as far as their
long-range plans,” Bucher said of the families. “It’s still too
early to be very specific (about the victims’ needs.) They choose
the pace on recovery, and we’ll be with them every step of the way
until they no longer need our assistance.”

Capt. Deborah Weigner of the Bradford Salvation Army said Monday
that her organization has not had much direct contact with the fire
victims, but said the Salvation Army Food Pantry does have food for
them if and when they need it.

She said the Salvation Army would work to meet any shortfalls
left by the American Red Cross, and could discuss options for
assistance with housing, too.

To those in the public with items they would like to donate to
the fire victims, Weigner said individuals are welcome to drop the
items off at the Salvation Army office and she, her husband, Capt.
Henry Weigner, and their staff will make sure the families get what
the public has purchased for or donated to them.

“They’re going to need everything,” Weigner reminded the
public.

Interim executive director of the Bradford YWCA Anneke Nuzzo was
not immediately available Monday. Also, there was no answer by
telephone at the Bradford Regional Medical Center Auxiliary’s SACKS
on Pine Street.

An assistant manager at the Goodwill on Forman Street said
Monday individuals who come there looking to lend a hand are
directed to the American Red Cross.

The investigating fire marshal with the Pennsylvania State
Police, Trooper Greg Agosti, was not available Monday for comment
on the ongoing investigation, which has yet to yield a cause for
the fire.

A Bradford City firefighter said Monday that no one from his
station had been back out for any rekindles at the site of the
blaze since Saturday.

The fire broke out at 170 Kennedy St. about 2:30 a.m. Thursday
and quickly spread to 166, 174 and 176 Kennedy St., destroying all
four homes. Any standing structures were demolished on Thursday and
Friday.

While the cause of the fire is still unknown, Bradford City Fire
Chief Bill McCormack told The Era at the scene Thursday morning
that there had been no utility service to 170 Kennedy St., a vacant
house owned by Debra Miczo, for several months.

The others -ð166 Kennedy St., owned by Frank Harriger Sr. and
occupied by Frank Harriger Jr., his wife, Cari, and their two sons;
174 Kennedy St., owned by Jeff Day and occupied by Day and his
father, George Day; and 176 Kennedy St., owned by Steve Kloss of
Lewis Run and occupied by Cindy Capps -ðwere all occupied at the
time of the fire.