Donations sought for family who lost home to fire

Donations are still being accepted for a family that lost its home in a Feb. 5 fire.

Kim Pinello, a neighbor and owner of the Galloping Grape in Warrenton, has been accepting donated items for the Nicole Diminution and her family since an afternoon fire gutted their Burke Lane residence.

"We've gotten so much clothing. It should be enough to get them started once they get into a house," Pinello said. "Kids toys would be great. We haven't gotten too many of those."

Dimitriou has three children, ages 2, 3 and 16.

No one was hurt in the garage and attic fire, even though terrain precluded firefighters from accessing a nearby pond that was the primary water source.

Tanker crews got water from hydrants near Lord Fairfax College and shuttled it to the site, Warrenton Fire Chief Sam Myers said.

They dumped the water into a holding tank at the end of a 3,500-foot driveway. From there, it was relayed through hoses to additional fire trucks stationed further up the driveway so crews could maintain pressure necessary for the firefighters at the house to extinguish the blaze.

"That played a big role in getting the fire under control as quickly as we did," Myers said.

Even so, the main level of the house sustained fire and smoke damage, Myers said. The basement also sustained significant water damage, rendering the home uninhabitable.

Volunteers from the Central Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross came to help the family, Myers said.
Sharon Levesque, community liaison for the Salvation Army in Warrenton said that organization also helped the family pay for lodging in a local hotel.

The organization may be able to help the Dimitrious with money for hotel lodging if need be, but Levesque believes the family may soon be able to move into a rented home.

Pinello also confirmed that is the case, but said she still welcomes donations of gift cards and other items for the Dimitrious.

The Galloping Grape is located across from the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds at 143 East Shirley Ave.

Donations may be dropped off from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.