SOUTHAMPTON — Less than one day after a Southampton family’s home was devastated by a fire, community members have come together to raise more than $35,000 via an online fundraiser. 

The blaze at the 79 Maple St. home was started accidentally by a propane grill on a rear deck of the home, according to the state fire marshal’s office.

Southampton firefighters responded to the home on Tuesday night and were gaining control over the fast-moving flames, but ran out of water, said Southampton Fire Chief John Workman. 

“The flames moved into the eaves and it was incredibly hard for us to get to,” he said. “We almost had it knocked down, but then we lost our water supply.”

Fire crews from all over western Massachusetts responded with pumper tanker trucks to help, but by the time firefighters were able to set up a permanent water supply shuttle, the single-story home was considered a total loss, Workman said.

Though all of the occupants of the home were able to safely exit without injury, the owner William York and his family lost all of their belongings. 

Close friends of York and his family started the GoFundMe fundraiser to help “lessen the burden.”

“Bill is a single dad and a very hard working electrician and tries his best to provide everything that his family needs. However, when a tragic event such as this happens it makes it nearly impossible for anyone to move forward without the help from others,” the GoFundMe page reads.

Several of the more than 250 donors shared messages of hope and prayer on the fundraiser page. One donor, Alyson Arnold, shared on the fundraising page that her family had lost her home a few years back in Westhampton. The community outpouring that followed was “uplifting,” she said. 

“If there is anything we can do to lend a hand in any way we are happy to help,” Arnold wrote. 

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>