Victims of a four-alarm fire in Manchester that virtually destroyed their belongings are receiving support and donations from at least two local groups.
Meanwhile, fire officials still have not determined the cause of the Monday afternoon blaze or what forced the hospitalization of 30 firefighters and two bystanders just as the fire was being extinguished.
Of the 11 people left homeless by the fire, American Red Cross volunteers are helping eight, said Leni Uddyback, spokeswoman for the organization.
"They were completely burned out," she said, noting that all the residents are staying with friends or relatives. "At this point, we have two families whose cases are pending. We haven't been contacted by them yet."
Those the Red Cross assisted have been given clothing vouchers redeemable at area merchants, Ms. Uddyback said.
"The amount of the vouchers varies, depending on the family's need," she said. "We don't disclose the amount because of privacy."
Financial donations should be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box Disaster Relief, Baltimore 21263. All checks should be marked "Manchester Fire," Ms. Uddyback said.
Manchester officials have set up their own relief effort and are accepting clothing, bedding, small appliances, nonperishable food and cooking utensils at the town office on York Street.
"It's our community," said town employee Sue Edwards, who is coordinating the effort. "We want to band together and help each other out."
All of the displaced residents are adults, mostly in their 20s to 40s, she said. One resident, Charles Renn, is 91.
Items can be dropped off at the office during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, she said. The office will also be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday to take donations, Ms. Edwards said.
Any items too large for storage at the town hall will be delivered directly to the residents, she said. Those donating may call the town office at 239-3200 to arrange delivery, Ms. Edwards said.
Meanwhile, some residents returned to the fire scene Tuesday to recover their belongings.
Joanne Eiser and Mike Kurcheski, who rented an apartment and stayed with friends Monday night, returned to gather their furniture.
Many of their belongings had been brought out by firefighters and stored overnight in a nearby shed.
Kim Unkart and Shawn Martin were able to get most of their belongings out of the apartment on Monday and returned Tuesday to load it into a pickup truck. Mr. Martin had left his apartment about 3 p.m. Monday and tied their Rottweiler, Tonka, on a long rope lead at the rear of the building.
Ms. Unkart found the dog there after a friend called her at work to tell her about the blaze.
Ms. Unkart also rescued her gray African parrot from the apartment. She said the parrot woke her Tuesday morning at the home of a friend with a cheery "Get up, hello, hello," and then mimicked the tones of someone dialing a touch tone phone.
Ms. Eiser, Mr. Kurcheski, Ms. Unkart and Mr. Martin all said they are staying with relatives and friends.
Investigators are checking several possibilities that may have caused toxic fumes in the old barn that was converted to six apartments in the mid 1970s, including black PVC pipe stored in the attic of the building and Freon from air conditioners used in the apartments.
Officials also said pesticides may have soaked the timbers of the 62-foot by 45-foot barn over the years, causing the release of toxic fumes during the fire. Air tanks used by the firefighters were also sent to a testing laboratory in Pennsylvania for examination of the quality of the air used in the tanks.
Fire officials said Tuesday most of the patients taken to five area hospitals were released after examinations Monday night, but two were admitted to Sinai and one to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.
One of the men at Sinai was released Tuesday, the other yesterday morning, Manchester Fire Chief Steve Miller said.
One firefighter remained in the trauma center after treatment in the hyperbaric chamber, normally used for excessive smoke inhalation, and was listed in stable condition.