Family, friends help clear Connoquenessing Township fire scene
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Despite cold temperatures, friends and family gathered to help clean up the site of a fire in the township that destroyed the home of Warren “Bud” Marra last week.
On Wednesday, Marra woke up in his home at West Park Manor mobile home park surrounded by flames. He escaped with only the clothes on his back.
"It was like an eternity compressed into the blink of an eye," Marra said, describing the feeling of waking up to his room on fire Wednesday morning.
Marra said he hasn't slept since that moment, stating whenever he tries to close his eyes, all he sees is fire.
"One day at a time, one minute at a time, one shovelful at a time," he said.
According to previous reports, Marra had no homeowners insurance despite working long hours, and lost all he owned in the fire.
On Saturday, Marra’s son-in-law, Paul Dillingham, and a volunteer crew of 20 people gathered to clean up the remains of the property. Volunteers sifted through items and took apart large pieces of the burnt structure with an excavator.
“It’s mostly family and friends,” Dillingham said. “Hopefully, it’ll take the weekend to clean up.”
"These people are just incredible. I'm overwhelmed right now," Mara said Saturday. "There is so much good in the world, and I'm seeing it firsthand.“
Dillingham started a GoFundMe account with a goal of $10,000 to help his father-in-law purchase necessities. As of Monday afternoon, almost $3,000 has been donated.
“Eventually, he’ll probably want to rebuild,” Dillingham said. “We’re trying to help get his feet under him.”
Dillingham said he would continue working throughout the weekend to get the property clean, and he was grateful to those who volunteered to help him.
“It’s amazing to see everyone out here in the freezing cold helping him,” Dillingham said.
Those wishing to donate in support of Bud Marra can visit https://gofund.me/e4e85219.
