Fund to aid Northampton fire victims tops $80,000

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (FOX25, myfoxboston) - A charitable fund established to help people who lost property in a string of arsons in Northampton late last year has raised about $83,000.

Organizers say although the Northampton Neighbor's Relief Fund remains open, there are no more major fundraising events planned.

They say $60,000 will go to people who lost property in the string of 15 arson fires in the early morning hours of Dec. 27, and the remainder will go to the Red Cross. Two people were killed in a house fire, and officials estimate property damage at $1.5 million. A local man is facing murder charges in connection with the fatal fire.

John Ebbets, chief executive of United Way of Hampshire County, which is administering the fund, tells The Daily Hampshire Gazette that the response was "amazing."

Information from: Daily Hampshire Gazette, http://www.gazettenet.com