The Walden Fire Department responded to a early morning structure fire at 118 Plains Road on December 26, in which two families lost their home. 

> Scott and Loretta Rizzo along with their daughter, Faith Rizzo, a senior at  Valley Central High School, awoke to a fire alarm and smoke.  

> Frankie & Sherri Holmes, along with their daughter, Jasmine Holmes, a recent Valley Central graduate who also works at Astoria Hudson in Montgomery, also lost their homel. They grabbed their dog, River, and made it to safety before watching their home and all of their possessions destroyed in front of their eyes, the day after Christmas. 

The #TOMSTRONG Community Response Team has been activated.  Both of these families have been put up at the Montgomery Holiday Inn Express and our response team will be picking up the cost.  This will allow them a temporary reprieve to evaluate their next steps. 

“We will not be accepting donations of clothing or any other items at this time,”said Town Supervisor Brian Maher who heads the TOMSTRONG response team. “Instead we ask that you join in making whatever donation you are able to make.  These donations will go directly to offsetting the expenses incurred by both families.”

The Village of Montgomery St. Pats Ramble Committee provided an initial $1000 donation.

The #TOMSTRONG Community Response Team is a charitable fund of the The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan making your donation tax-deductible. Visit cfosny.org/our-funds/project-funds/tomstrong-community- response-team  to contribute