THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 Page 13 FATAL FIRE | FROM PAGE 1 less body on the fi rst fl oor of the house, which was engulfed in fl ames. This was the first time in nearly a decade that any residents perished in a Saugus fi re, according to Jake Wark, public information offi cer for the Department of Fire Services. “Aside from these two deaths, there were two other deaths in the period from 2011 thru the present. Both were in 2011 – one on Jan. 16, 2011 and the other on July 23, 2011,” Wark said. The fi re was jointly investigated by the Saugus Fire Department, the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the Offi ce of the State Fire Marshal, and State Police assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Offi ce. “Electrical fi res are the second leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts,” State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said in a statement yesterday. “It’s critically important not to overload outlets with multiple appliances, or to use power strips or extension cords to power devices like air conditioners or space heaters,” he said. “If you see sparks, hear sizzling or buzzing, or smell the vague odor of something burning, call your local fi re department immediately. Firefi ghters can use thermal imaging technology to see excessive heat inside the walls.” From 2016 to 2020, Massachusetts fire departments reported 2,719 home fires FATAL FIRE | SEE PAGE 14 Neighbors left fl owers on the stairs in memory of Lou Gallo and Rose Naples, who died in Saturday’s house fi re at 16 Richard St. The aftermath of the fi re was still evident on Monday night. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) TRAGEDY ON RICHARD STREET: Saugus Fire Department Lieutenant Damian Drella’s photo posted on Saugus Firefi ghters Local 1003 website captures the horror of the three-alarm fi re that destroyed the home of an 80-year-old Saugus woman and her 78-year-old brother last Saturday, claiming both of their lives. FATAL FIRE: An 80-year-old woman and her 78-year-old brother died after fi re broke out in their home at their Richard Street home early last Saturday. An investigation determined the fi re was electrical. (Courtesy photo by Michael Layhe to The Saugus Advocate) Saugus mourns crafty, jolly neighbor and quiet widow C By Tara Vocino ommunity members are mourning victims Louis Gallo, 78, and Rosemarie Naples, 80, the siblings who died in Saturday’s early morning three-alarm house fi re at 16 Richard St. Retired Saugus Postal Clerk Karen Perullo-Coburn knew Gallo as a 20-year customer and valued his friendship over the years. “What I’ll miss about him is making Christmas ornaments for us,” Perullo-Coburn said. “Whenever he came in the post offi ce, he made me smile and made me feel like I mattered.” She said Gallo didn’t have any children but treated the staff like his own. “He was personable and sunny,” Perullo-Coburn said. “He was very jolly.” When she heard he died, she was heartbroken. A friend of 40-plus years, Barbara Celata, said Naples, who worked at the Saugus Bank and Trust, was a friend for life. “I will miss my phone calls to her,” Celata said. “We shared nice laughs and beautiful memories.” Celata said Gallo was just as friendly, adding that they were two peas in a pod. She will miss seeing Gallo at the Italian-American Club polling place, where they’d chit-chat with a smile. “He loved to cook and was special,” Celata said, who went to the Richard Street home to pay her respects. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’m so sad they’re gone.” Neighbor Dennis Norkum, who awoke to the roaring fl ames and an explosion, said they didn’t get out much in their golden years, except for doctor’s appointments, adding that Rose was married to a contractor, the late John, a 1959 graduate of Saugus High School who played both football and basketball. John Naples was ultimately inducted into the Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame. Together, they shared two daughters, Cindy and Lisa. Neighbor Nancy Pizzi, who was awakened by the fl ames, said she heard that Naples was a nice woman. “It’s very sad and tragic,” Pizzi said. Neighbor Maria Della Croce said she off ered a prayer at the site to pay her respects. “Their parents built their house in the ’30s,” Norkum said. “They kept to themselves but were great people.” He added the neighborhood is sorry to lose such great neighbors. “Hope they didn’t suff er too much,” Norkum said. “If there was wind, it would have spread to other homes and been tough to control.” Known as Swampscott’s unoffi cial town historian, Swampscott Select Board Chairman Peter Spellios said Gallo made Swampscott’s history part of their present, ensuring that they knew where they can came from as a town in order to inform where they were going. “We will not be able to replace Louie, but he left us a great wealth of knowledge,” Spellios said. “We will be forever grateful.” Spellios added that Gallo will be missed tremendously. President Molly Conner of the Swampscott Historical Society, of which he was an active member, said she’ll miss Gallo’s generosity the most. “He helped so many people,” Conner said. “From his knowledge of Swampscott history to donating to the Swampscott library, his contributions to Swampscott are remembered by all.” Conner added that Gallo’s humor and kindness was infectious and made them want to be a better person, adding that Swampscott Historical Society members will miss him forever. Funeral arrangements hadn’t been arranged as of press time.
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