ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Wayne Alarm’s Ralph Sevinor and Deb Duxbury, Red Cross disaster program manager, show the content of one of the bags they bring to events such as this. Wayne Alarm housed the victims of fire until they found places to stay.
Four people died in a fire in Lynn early Friday morning. As horrible as that is, it’s quite likely the total would have been six had it not been for members of the Lynn Fire Department who ventured onto the second floor of the fully engulfed building and carried two women out.
They both have serious injuries, but they’re expected to survive.
We can be thankful that despite this heartbreaking tragedy, there are heroes among us who step outside of themselves to deliver aid and comfort.
First responders spring to mind. We take them for granted until their presence is needed at a fire, or some other situation that could very easily careen out of control. Then, when we see what they do, and how quickly they respond, we remember. These are everyday heroes.
So, too, were all the people who stepped in to provide comfort and shelter to 18 survivors who barely had time to flee the Bruce Place dwelling due to the rapidly spreading fire and accompanying smoke. One of them, Rev. John Healey of St. Pius V Parish, who is also Lynn’s fire chaplain, said most of them had all they could do to get out of there with their lives. Everything else they owned is gone.
Father Healey got to the fire around 1 a.m., and immediately went to Wayne Alarm on Essex Street, where survivors from all three floors of the dwelling were being sheltered. A big hero’s salute goes out to Wayne Alarm owner Ralph Sevinor, who, on many occasions, has extended himself on behalf of fire victims. His employees deserve a similar salute for making themselves available too.
We mourn the loss of four young people who have died in this awful fire. But we can be grateful for all the people who stepped in to make sure it wasn’t worse than it was.