On Tuesday morning, two little girls died of smoke inhalation when fire spread through a multi-family home at 6-8 Prospect Street in Putnam.
The community has been coming together to help the families who lived in the home and an anonymous donor has come forward and offered to pay the funeral expenses for 3-year-old Alexis Auger and her 9-month-old sister, Ava Auger, according to WINY Radio, which set up a fund to help the families affected by the fire.
The fire marshal said the fire started in the girls’ bedroom early Tuesday morning. The cause has not been determined, but officials said it was accidental.
State police, the Eastern District Major Crime detectives and the fire marshal are investigating and specialists were called in to examine the house for possible code violations, according to state police.
Five families lived in the home and four people were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, including the girls’ pregnant mother, according to fire officials.
WINY Radio posted on Facebook that the station and Putnam Bank will continue to raise funds for families affected by the fire through Feb. 8.
Checks may be made payable to “The Prospect Street Fire Fund” Care of Putnam Bank.
You can drop off household items, clothing and gift cards at Chase Building Supply in Woodstock.
