Fire destroys four apartments at Iroquois Village

Four families have found themselves homeless after a fire that allegedly started at a cooking stove errupted Sunday night. The fire reignited after the crews had left the scene, causing further damage to the housing units.

The fire began at an apartment at the Iroquois Village complex in Rooseveltown. The property is owned and managed by the Mohawk Indian Housing Corporation, although the site is off-reservation.

The Massena Fire Department responded to the scene Sunday and extinguished the flames with one apartment being gutted and another heavily damaged. By nighttime the firefighters departed.

During the middle of the night, a fire was called in once again and the same 4-apartment unit was on fire. This time, all four units were destroyed and the two-story row house has been noted to be a total loss.

Fire crews stayed on site until Monday afternoon investigating the cause of the blaze. They have not disclosed if the second fire was a result of the first, or if it was caused separately.

The MIHC released a call-out for donations of money and household items for the displaced families. They each lost all of their belongings and must now find new places to live.

Some families are staying temporarily with family members; others with community members who had room to take them in.

The MIHC is asking for donations to be dropped off at their building on McGee Road.

Clothing sizes are:

Woman’s size large or 14, shoe size 9 ½

Girls size 5T, shoe size 11

Men’s size Medium, Large or Extra-Large

Men’s pant size 32x32, 34x32, 36x32, 33x33 and 36x30

Men’s shoe/boot size 9, 10, 10 ½, and 12

For more information contact MIHS at 188 McGee Road, Akwesasne or call 518-358-4860 for pickups.