Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 Peter Cimino holds Harley outside of their home. Homeowners Peter, left, and Kristina Cimino, far right, talk with the State Fire Marshal – the fi re’s cause was found to be careless disposal of smoking material between the two damaged houses at 19-21 Loring Rd. last Friday afternoon. ASHES | FROM PAGE 1 ing Material’ on the exterior between the two damaged buildings,” Fire Captain Mark Wolfgang wrote in an e-mail. Naturally, Cimino was devastated, but she was thankful that it wasn’t worse. “I’m still in shock,” Cimino said, wiping away tears. “I’m glad all the pets and everyone got out safely.” She was glad that her children – Ryleigh Cimino, 7, Benjamin Caggiano, 2 – and dogs Harley and Tessie and cats George and Henry and bird Roona are okay, but it was tough to see the back of the house that she called home for 35 years, with her mother, Claire’s, and sister, Hollie’s, ashes inside. Next door neighbor Kevin Mallett, whose two-family house at 19 Loring Rd. had side damage/broken windows, but is still livable, said he doesn’t smoke, but some of his roommates do. “I’m glad everyone is okay,” Mallett said, who didn’t see anyone throw the cigarettes. “But I feel badly for our neighbors, who lost their home.” Approximately an hour and a half later, Henry, the cat, emerged from under a car, and it was an emotional reunion. Harley, the dog, was across the street in the neighbor’s yard when he came out to drink from the fi refi ghters’ hose water. Witness Doug Struck was watching the blaze from across the street at St. George Condominiums when, he said, big, black smoke curled around the building, causing poor visibility. He walked over to Loring Road to see it in action. For information, visit https:// www.gofundme.com/f/ pbay9t-house-fire-relief?utm_ source=customer&utm_ medium=copy_link-tip&utm_ campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&f bclid=IwAR1tLE2r738T6ClVQyb JtT1lI_ZKnV960IBAe3pY5NlsDtgAnBwZD6ZcZvk. —Tara Vocino may be reached at printjournalist1@gmail.com. The back of 21 Loring Rd. had the most damage, making the house a total loss. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Firefi ghters determine if the home is safe to enter. MASKS | FROM PAGE 3 as May fl owers and sunshine. But for the foreseeable future, only our eyes will reveal our happiness as we slowly return to stores and restaurants and small public gatherings. Bright smiles will remain hidden behind masks. We can expect that many of the restrictions to which we have grown accustomed will be the norm as previouslyclosed businesses ease back into operation. The six-foot separation from others, a cap on the number of people in stores and shops, check-out counters separated from customers by plexiglass – all those measures that helped Massachusetts fi nally “fl atten the curve” likely will be standard practice until medical science devises an answer to the contagious, deadly Covid-19 virus. And masks will be a protective fashion statement. The statistical proof of Covid-19’s devastating invasion is persuasive evidence that any measure of protection is a wise action. Massachusetts reported its fi rst Covid-19 death on Friday, March 20. Barely 50 days later, the death toll in our Commonwealth passed 5,200. Similarly, as recently as March 12, just over 100 people had tested positive for the virus across Massachusetts. By the time you read this, Massachusetts will surpass 80,000 confi rmed cases. By any measure, that is terrifying information. While a mask is no guarantee of safety, it is a valuable layer of protection. The federal Center for Disease Control has made it plainly clear that a mask or covering over the nose and mouth can help prevent people who MASKS | SEE PAGE 13
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