Community Rallies To Help Bridgeport Firefighter After House Fire

FAIRFIELD, CT — Bridgeport Firefighter Mike Mentes, his wife Jessica, and their three daughters lost their Fairfield home in a fire last weekend, and the community and Mike's firefighter brothers and sisters are stepping up to help.

GoFundMe and GiveInKind initiatives have been launched to assist the Mentes family, who are all safe after the devastating blaze.

Mike was at work, Morgan (16), Ireland (14), and Reagan (11) were all at a sleepover, and only Jessica and the family's dog and cat were in the home when the fire broke out early Sunday.

Jessica credits the "Mama Cat" and the fire alarms in the home with saving her life; she, Mama Cat and the dog, "Kevin," had to jump out of a bedroom window to safety.

"All I grab were a pair of my husband's Crocs to wear," Jessica, a nursing student, said during a news conference Friday in front of the heavily damaged home. Fairfield officials condemned the home on Alma Drive as unfit for occupancy, and it has been boarded up.

Members of both the Bridgeport and Fairfield fire departments attended Friday's news conference in a show of support for the Mentes family, and Fairfield and Bridgeport officials were also on hand.

"We are here to raise awareness, and to appeal to raise funds, to help the Mentes family," state Sen. Tony Hwang said, adding that Mike and Jessica were initially reluctant to ask for help, "because they were thinking of so many other families that are in need."

In addition to Hwang, state Reps. Sarah Keitt and Cristin McCarthy Vahey, and state Sen. Herron Gaston were also in attendance for Friday's news conference.

"It is important to note that someone who is a public safety servant, a Bridgeport firefighter, who risks his life in protecting others, should ironically suffer the struggle of a fire at his own home," Hwang said. "We are thankful that the family and their pets are safe."

Mike Mentes has served the Bridgeport Fire Department for nearly 20 years, and Chief Lance Edwards said that with the Holidays still fresh in people's minds, he hopes that people will donate.

"Unfortunately, Mike and his family went through a tragic incident that night," Edwards said. "Mike and his family are used to providing help to the citizens of Bridgeport and Fairfield, and they never thought this would happen to them.

"This is not something Mike wanted to do, he's a very low-key guy, he's one of the good ones. He's spent 17 years as a Bridgeport firefighter, and we hope we have another 17 years with him. Today, we're asking the public to help the Mentes family," Edwards said.

Interim Fairfield Fire Chief Kyran Dunn said that in addition to supporting the Mentes family, he and the other fire personnel urge people to check to make sure their smoke detectors are functioning and have fresh batteries.

"Smoke detectors were installed, and those smoke detectors helped to wake up Jessica, and that's what enabled her to get out with the pets," Dunn said. "Please, please remember that lesson, check your smoke detectors."

To that end, Mike Mentes said that a portion of the proceeds raised to be used to buy smoke detectors for the fire department to give out to those in need.

"To everyone who's offered support, our friends and neighbors, everyone, thank you," Jessica said. "We could not do this without all of you, and please check your smoke detectors, and have a plan in the case of a fire. We had that, and I'm here today because of that."

As of Friday, the GoFundMe effort had raised more than $25,000 toward a goal of $35,000, and the Mentes family has been able to use gift cards donated through GiveInKind to begin buying new clothes.

For more information, and to donate to help the Mentes family, visit the GoFundMe page and the GiveInKind page.