No new information is available in the investigation of the fire
at the top of Kennedy Street in the early morning hours of Aug. 10,
but donations to the victims of the fire are still needed.

Christopher M. Sotir, office manager at Northwest Savings Bank,
said 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.

No one was hurt in the fire that broke out at 170 Kennedy St. at
2:28 a.m. Aug. 10 and quickly spread to 166, 174 and 176 Kennedy
St., leaving 11 people homeless. All four homes were destroyed, and
any standing structures were demolished on Aug. 10 and 11.

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 he’d assess the response the fund so far as fair.

“The initial momentum has gone down,” Sotir said. “We’re going
to keep the account open to the end of September so people can give
what they can, and hopefully we’ll disburse a nice amount out to
the families by the end of September. With school starting up and
the holidays around the corner, any donations would be greatly
appreciated.”

Sotir said they’ve received some donations through the mail
between $5 to $100 with the higher amounts being “few and far
between.” Sotir also pointed out that all donors will remain
anonymous.

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 – 85 W.
Washington St., P.O. Box 352, Bradford, Pa. 16701. Checks should be
made payable to the Kennedy Street Fire Relief Fund.

Those interested in donating money, food, clothes or other items
can also contact the American Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Executive Director of the McKean-Potter Counties Chapter of the
American Red Cross Greg Ulyan said the families are set for the
time being, but more items may be needed as all the families find
permanent residences.

“The community is coming through very well with financial
contributions and goods the families are going to need,” Ulyan
said. “Some still need permanent locations to go, and then they’ll
need major household furnishings” such as kitchen tables, beds,
dressers and furniture.

Ulyan said the Red Cross does not have the storage space to have
people drop off these items. He said if one has an item to donate,
that person should call the Red Cross first, and the Red Cross will
compile a list of items with the address and phone number of the
donors for the families to choose items and then get in touch with
the donors.

Bradford City Fire Chief Bill McCormack and Department of Health
official George Corignani ordered the demolition of the houses
almost immediately after the fire prior to the arrival of
Ridgway-based fire marshal Trooper Greg Agosti, citing safety
issues as the buildings caved in on firefighters in the
buildings.

The investigation into the fire may be hampered by the emergency
demolition of the four houses.

Agosti told The Era last week the investigation has been turned
over to Cpl. Martin Henneman of the Kane-based state police, and
Agosti did not give a reason for the change. Henneman did not
return repeated phone calls for comment on the investigation.

The cause and origin of the fire remain unknown as of Tuesday,
but arson is suspected in the fire. McCormack has said the fire
started at 170 Kennedy St., a vacant house with no utility service
for several months prior to the fire.