GoFundMe set up for Jaffrey woman who lost house in fire Tuesday

April 19-- Apr. 19--JAFFREY -- Following a fire that devastated a home on 74 North St. Tuesday, a crowdfunding campaign for the woman who lived there aims to raise $20,000.

Jaffrey Fire Chief David Chamberlain said on Friday that the fire remains under investigation, but that it has been ruled accidental. He said the source of the fire is still unknown, but that it began somewhere on the first floor living room.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported at about 1:40 p.m., and there were no injuries, Chamberlain said. First responders rescued a couple of dogs, cats, rabbits and a hedgehog from the fire. A group of baby chicks that was also in the house did not survive the fire, he said. One of the cats wasn't breathing when it was rescued, but after it received oxygen, the animal appeared to be OK, Chamberlain said.

He said most of the house sustained extensive damage, which he estimated totaled around $80,000.

Stacy Weibel, a family friend who set up the crowdfunding page, said the home belongs to Jaffrey native Lorraine Dellasanta, who at the time of the fire was away from home with her son, Patrick, who has brittle bone disease and receives at-home care.

Dellasanta grew up in the home, she said, and the property does not have insurance.

The home is uninhabitable, according to Weibel. On Wednesday, Weibel and Dellasanta examined the home together. The fire, Weibel said, burned the back of the house, and firefighters had to saw open part of the roof to extinguish the blaze. Dellasanta's room has extensive water damage, she said, and her bed was drenched in water. Dellasanta was not immediately available for comment, but Weibel said she wants to rebuild her home.

As of this morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised more than $600.

The campaign can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/ur3xgg-house-fire

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