Two families whose homes were completely destroyed by fire are seeking public assistance to help them to rebuild their lives. Sonia Murrillo’s house in Maskall Village was destroyed at about 9:00 Sunday morning, and her loss was estimated to be about $60,000, while Cornel Gomez, whose house was destroyed in the Neal Pen Road Extension area on Thursday, September 5, said that the value of the home and household belongings he lost is approximately $20,000.

Both families said that they need materials to rebuild, and are accepting donations of supplies, as well as monetary donations to buy items such as food and other necessities.

Gomez said that about 10:00 Thursday, he was not at home, but was in the vicinity of his house in the Neal Pen Road Extension area, when he suddenly heard a loud explosion and saw a house erupting in flames. At the time, he had not been aware that it was his house that had caught fire, because no appliances had been left on in the house to create a fire hazard.

On his way home he was met and given the bad news that his house had been destroyed by fire.

Gomez said that he is not discouraged, and will rebuild, with assistance from the public. He can be contacted at 663-8398 or 621-7746, or he can be found in the Neal Pen Road Extension area through the ‘picado’ road.

Sonia Murrillo said that she was visiting her mother-in-law, who lives in the same yard as she does in Maskall, on Sunday morning when suddenly her house caught fire. She quickly reacted and tried to put out the fire, but it was already out of control and the house was destroyed.

Those in the area came afterward to assist, but little could have been done, she said. She, also, is at a loss as to what could have caused her house to catch fire.

Sonia Murrillo can be contacted at 660-4621.