FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) —A Fall River family is left with nothing after a fire tore through their historic home on Locust Street. While no one was injured, their beloved pets did not survive. Firefighters responded to the blaze around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, finding flames shooting through the b ack of the home. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the building’s age and structure initially made it too dangerous to fight the fire from inside. Melissa Langella and her son, Maverick, escaped unharmed—but lost everything, including their dogs. Langella says it was her son who first noticed something was wrong. “He pointed out a foul smell in the home which bothered him and was persistent about it,” she said. When she checked, she found black smoke pouring through their home. She grabbed her son and ran outside—only to realize their puppies were still inside. The family later confirmed that an electrical issue with their ice maker sparked the fire, leading to a total loss. Langella also had a cat, who is still missing. “She knew when things were wrong, and she would never fail to be by my side,” Langella said. “And I failed to even just help her.” Now, the community is stepping up to help. County Fare, a restaurant in Somerset, is collecting donations and hosting a fundraiser. “Crumbs can make bread,” said family member Jose Medeiros. “Every little bit helps.” Several GoFundMe pages have also been set up, with friends, neighbors, and even a local band coming together to support the family. Categories: Fall River, Massachusetts, News ...read more read less