MONROE, CT — Dee and Tony Calise lost their Captains Hill Road home to a devastating fire Thursday morning. Now, a GoFundMe page gives residents an opportunity to help the couple get back on their feet.
Lisa Pierne Grosso, of Monroe, is the organizer of the page entitled, “Help Dee and Tony rebuild their home!” So far, there have been 97 donations raising a total of $9,604.
Neither of the Calises were home when firefighters from Monroe, Stevenson and Stepney responded to the emergency call shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday.
“Dee still works full time as a nurse at Bridgeport Hospital’s SurgEase and Tony happened to drive her in this morning,” Grosso wrote on the GoFundMe page. “She is an invaluable member of the SurgEase team and has more energy than those half her age!!!”
“Dee and her devoted husband have been in their home in Monroe since 1967 and now have lost everything,” she continued. “Anyone who knows them, knows how caring and generous they are. Avid church goers, they pray for everyone. They need our prayers and support now. Please help us raise money for them to get all of the many things they’ll need to rebuild!!”
Police Capt. Keith White said the American Red Cross was notified on the day of the fire to help the couple with financial assistance for any immediate needs, as well as lodging.
Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Catalano said the house fire was fully involved by the time firefighters were called Thursday morning and the house is now uninhabitable.
Fire Marshal William Davin is still investigating the cause of the fire.
Firefighters from the White Hills and Huntington fire companies assisted at the scene Thursday, as crews deployed multiple attack lines and a ladder pipe briefly to extinguish most of the fire within approximately 40 minutes and remained on scene knocking down smaller pockets of fire throughout the morning.
A total of five engines and two trucks were on scene with Trumbull and Newtown covering the town’s fire stations. The Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, Monroe police officers and the Red Cross provided support.
