Torres-Seixas Family House Fire

Our Story

Hi, everyone. My name is Tania, and my husband Fred and I have decided to reach out to you all in the midst of an unexpected family emergency. Our home in Derry, NH suffered an electrical fire over Columbus Day weekend, which was quickly contained through a joint effort between our local department and other emergency organizations. However, the property was significantly damaged by heat, smoke, and soot, and is currently deemed uninhabitable by authorities until it can be properly repaired and cleaned.

While we are devastated by the loss of several indoor pets and items of sentimental value, we are thankful for the safety of our children (who were with us in VA for their aunt's wedding) and our remaining animals (one of whom was rescued by our fire department). We've seen so much kindness this weekend, from the first responders who arrived at the scene of the accident to the neighbor who helped to take our pet in, and we are immensely grateful for the support we've received from you all.

Our Situation

We have been in contact with our insurance company, fire inspectors, and several emergency agencies since late Saturday night, trying to piece together a picture of what the next few weeks will look like. Unfortunately things are still very uncertain. The American Red Cross has been able to guarantee us 2-3 days' worth of food, while insurance can immediately secure us with a week's worth of lodging at an area hotel. At this time we don't know how long that aid will extend, and if it will be available for the entirety of our displacement.

In addition to this, we are waiting for an estimate on other expenses that will befall us, including but not limited to house repairs (which, at present time, are believed to be between $30000-$50000), furniture and appliance replacement, and day-to-day necessities (such as clothing, toiletries, school supplies for the children, and animal supplies) that were lost in the fire.

Our insurance company requires an upfront deductible of $2000 for the damages, and will not be able to disclose the amount that they will cover for us until later this week, after inventory is taken and an official assessment is made.

How You Can Help

Right now, our main priority is making sure that our family is taken care of (and that everyone's basic needs are met). We are also focusing on having our children return to their normal lives as soon as possible. This means rebuilding their wardrobes, stocking up on school supplies, and making sure that they can make it back to their classrooms within the week. Our surviving pets will also require immediate necessities, including food and living arrangements (so an extended kennel stay for our dog, and a small glass tank for our lizard).

There is only so much that we can do with the savings that we have now, and until our insurance company can better tell us what to expect, we're finding ourselves in an uncomfortably vulnerable financial position. To mitigate this (and to help us cope with any unforeseen future expenses), we are asking for help from those closest to us. Our current goal amount is not set in stone - we will adjust it accordingly as new information becomes available to us. Truthfully, even the smallest donation to our cause will help us to regain our footing in an incredibly uncertain situation.

Thank you in advance for your support.