Community reaches out to fire victims

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) - There was a sense of sadness looming on 671 Bay Street, after a fire on Saturday ripped through the single family home.

The tragic deaths of 17-year old Marshal Wood Jr. and his 4-year old brother, Malik Bell in a house fire are causing a lot of grief in the neighborhood.

Close family friends told 22News the 17-year old was mute and couldn't cry out for help.

Edwin Waldon, the neighbor who heroically ran into the burning building to help get rescue some of the children from the house, told 22News he feels disappointed he couldn't do more.

The State Police fire Marshal came to investigate the incident on Sunday.

Mid-morning on Saturday fire raced from the basement to the upper floors where a mother and nine of her children were sleeping.

Two of the young children are being treated for burns in Boston, while the other family members are mourning the loss of there loved ones and the place they called home.

The mother of the victims, who is fondly called Sister Woods by her congregation, was a custodian and active member at Celestial Praise Church of God in Springfield.
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The church is organizing an outreach for her family during their time of grief.

The church will be collecting donations, clothing and other necessities for the family and are encouraging the community to drop off goods at their church.

Please take donations during normal business hours to the church at 321 Wilbraham Road in Springfield.

Funeral arrangements for the two young boys are not yet complete.

In the meantime a hard look into how the fire started.

Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger told 22News, that the Springfield arson and bomb squad along with state troopers from the Fire marshal’s office is focusing their attention on an electrical junction box at the bottom of the cellar stairs.