Mill River — It is the second time this winter a family lost their home to a catastrophic fire. And yet again, no one was injured.
David and Dianna Lupiani and their six sons were away overnight during the holiday weekend when Dianna received a 3:30 a.m. call on New Year’s morning from the New Marlborough Fire Department notifying them that their home off Mill River Great Barrington Road was “fully engulfed in flames and they lost everything they owned,” according to her sister, Caroline Dempsey-Donsbough.
Dempsey-Donsbough has started a gofundme account for the family, which in just one day has so far raised more than $19,000 for a $5,000 goal.
David and Dianna Lupiani issued the following statement: “We would like to thank our friends, family, the entire community and beyond for every single contribution from personal belongings and monetary donations to words of encouragement. We would have absolutely nothing if it wasn’t for everyone’s generosity. This incredible outpouring of love and support has provided our family with much comfort while having to face this devastating loss.”
For those that would like to support the Lupiani family they can also make checks payable to David and Dianna Lupiani, c/o Lee Bank, 75 Park Street, Lee, MA 01238 or they may also stop by any Lee Bank Office to make a contribution. They can also send gift cards to The Lupiani Family c/o The Dempsey’s, P.O.Box 697, Great Barrington, MA 01230.
Another gofundme account for the family has raised about $6,200.
Dianna Lupiani is a second grade teacher at Muddy Brook Elementary School in Great Barrington, and her husband David is the wrestling coach at Mt. Everett Regional High School in Sheffield.
New Marlborough Fire Chief Charles Loring said the cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire marshal. He further said the department got the call “from a passerby” who “saw flames” at around 3 a.m. Once firefighters arrived, the fire was put out in a couple of hours, he said, though he said the home was a “total loss.”
Loring said in addition to his department, firefighters came from the towns of Monterey, Sheffield, Great Barrington and Canaan, Connecticut.
Last month, a Great Barrington family lost their home on Dresser Avenue in Great Barrington to a fire that started on a cooking stove. The fire was thought to be under control, but despite overnight checks by firefighters, it reignited the following day. There were no injuries.
