Fire victim's kin cope, rebuild lives

KEILA TORRES Staff writer
Article Last Updated: 01/16/2008 11:29:12 PM EST

BRIDGEPORT — On the night of the Fairfield Avenue fire that claimed three lives last month, Josefina Castro and her family were awakened by their 7-month-old puppy's barking.

"The dog started barking and I told him to stop, but he wouldn't," Castro recalled. "Then he started scratching at the door trying to get out." When Castro got up to see what was agitating the puppy, Mikey, she saw the house next door was on fire. Castro shared her account of the tragic Dec. 7 fire with Mayor Bill Finch at a Wednesday luncheon for some of the 22 residents displaced from the three homes ravaged by the blaze. The event took place in the mayor's conference room at City Hall Annex.

The three fatalities in the fire were husband and wife Arturo Iselo Sr. and Anayelo Hernandez, and the couple's 1-year-old son, Omar. Two of the Iselos' older sons, Arturo Jr., 15, and Jesus, 12, had been led to safety moments before the building collapsed on the rest of their family.

Four families attended the luncheon, where they discussed their experiences during the fire and the aftermath with the mayor, Fire Chief Brian Rooney and City Council member Susan Brannelly, who represents their district.

"I really want to thank you all for coming," said Finch. "We just wanted to let you know that we haven't forgotten you."

The horror of the fire remains vivid in Castro's memory, who said that in her mind she still hears the boys' screams. The loss even affects her 3-year-old son, Joshua, who she said talks about the boys constantly. "I don't wish that even for my worst enemy," said Castro. She said her children start to cry when they hear a siren and they don't like seeing candles burning. The Iselo brothers did not attend the event.

The mayor told the families he plans to promote fire safety education in the city and asked the families for their help.

In addition to the lunch, the mayor gave the families tickets for his luxury box at this weekend's Freestyle Motocross show at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The families lost all their possessions in the fire, and although most received housing assistance from the American Red Cross for the first few weeks, they are still trying to find permanent residences.

Castro said the Red Cross gave her a card to buy clothes and found accommodation for her family in a shelter. They only stayed there a month because their puppy was not allowed to stay with them.

Castro said that although she has since located an apartment, the rent is too high for her family and they are looking for something that better suits their budget.

Zoila Marquez and Victoria Rivera both said that they are waiting for the Bridgeport Housing Authority to give them a moving date for apartments that are being made available for them through the Section 8 program.

Marquez, who has been staying at her son's two-bedroom apartment with his family, said shewants to have an apartment for herself, her daughter and a friend who had been living with them. Her daughter-in-law, Laurie Gonzalez, said that she doesn't mind having her husband's family stay with them, but the space is too tight for everyone to be comfortable.

Rivera said she hopes to get her own apartment soon. For now, she is living in New York, which means she has to travel every day to bring her children to school in Bridgeport.

Valeka Clarke, a mother of three, said she is grateful her family escaped the fire safely, although her "heart goes out" to the family of those who died. She said the one good thing that came out of the experience is her new friendship with Castro. She also said her 7-year-old daughter, Svetlana, has become close friends with Castro's daughter, Aalisyha, 6. All of the families said that they have received numerous donations from their children's schools. Clarke's two oldest children attend Central Magnet High School, while Svetlana attends Black Rock Elementary School. Clarke said the elementary school has helped with clothes or money.

Castro and Rivera said that their children's school, Longfellow School, also collected numerous donations.