Link to Kristen’s GoFundMe: Help Kristen Rebuild After Apartment Fire

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- There has been an outpouring of support for a West Springfield woman who lost nearly everything in an early morning fire, while making sure her neighbors got out safely. Now, her community is rallying around her as she continues to rebuild.

When a fire broke out here in the early morning hours on December 1st, West Springfield native Kristen Flaherty jumped out of bed and quickly called 911, before going door to door making sure all her neighbors got out of the building safely.

Western Mass News got the chance to speak with Kristen, who explains, “I immediately started banging on my neighbors’ doors because no one was awake; it was the middle of the night. So, I woke all my neighbors up [and] thankfully everyone made it out safely, but the house was completely damaged.”

With most of her belongings damaged in the fire, Flaherty continues the work to rebuild her life from scratch. Her friend, Katie Malloy, started a GoFundMe for Kristen, to help raise money for immediate needs, such as clothing, temporary housing, food, and replacing essential items she lost in the fire.

Malloy tells Western Mass News hearing the story of her bravery is why she wanted to step in, “When I heard her story and how heroic she was, she was texting me at five in the morning, saying she made sure all her neighbors got out of the building... Anyone who has been through a hard time will realize that when you kind of hit rock bottom, and everything hits you all at once, it just takes a toll on you. So, any little contribution would be so helpful for her.”

If you would like to help Kristen rebuild, you can click here for a link to her GoFundMe.

On Western Mass News at 10 and 11, we’ll have more on Kristen’s story and what this support means to her.

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