Kids & Family

Adams Area Fire District Collecting Donations for Macri Family at 5K

The Macri family's home and floral business in Mars was rendered uninhabitable after a fire.

Mike Macri was cooking dinner for his family in the private residence attached to his longtime floral business on Grand Avenue in Marslast Friday when a container of hot oil on the stove exploded in front of him.

Macri ducked out of the way, avoiding injury.

“But when he looked back, the kitchen wall was completely on fire,” said Chief Bill Hayes of the Adams Area Fire District.

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The fire quickly spread through the walls of the basement kitchen and into the building’s attic. Nine fire departments, including Cranberry, Wexford and Evans City, responded to the two-alarm fire.

“The construction of the house, unfortunately, is a balloon frame, which allowed fire to run up the exterior walls into the attic,” Hayes said. “We had to do an intensive overhaul.”

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The six members of the Macri family escaped safely from the fire without injury.

The house and the business, however, were rendered uninhabitable.

Hayes said there is extensive smoke and water damage to the building. He estimated damages at about $250,000.

The Macri family currently is staying with friends in the area, Hayes said.

“They’re going to be displaced from their home and business for quite some time,” he said.

In the weeks since the Aug. 30 fire, the community also has been pulling together to help the Macri family.

Hayes said donations have poured in from all over. A “Macri Fire Relief Fund” also has been set up on Facebook and collection boxes for donations have been placed at the Mars Area School District offices.

Hayes said firefighters recently had a dinner with the Macris where the family expressed their gratefulness for the donations.

“They must have thanked us 50 times,” he said. “They’re overwhelmed by the support in the community.”

Adams Area Fire District also will be collecting donations for the family at its annual 5K run/walk this weekend.

“We’ll have a boot up there collecting money,” Hayes said. “Or, anyone can deliver anything they want to the station, as long as someone is there.”

Dedicated to the memory of Herb Kaufman, a former Valencia fire chief and influential member of the community, the 5K kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. It also serves at the official opener for the Adams Township Community Day. 

Registration for the event begins just before the race at 8 a.m. Sept. 7. For more information, click here. 


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