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BANTAM — Kalia Furnari was sitting at home working when she heard a loud explosion behind her.
In a matter of minutes, almost everything she and her fiancée, Chris McCormick, invested in a small family business, Bantam Tree LLC, went up in flames.
“I heard this big explosion. I didn’t know what it was. He spoke of the destruction of most of the tree facilities. “It was insane. It took Chris years to build it and 15 to 20 minutes for it all to burn down.”
McCormick launched Bantam Tree in 2016, and Furnari came along a few years later when the two met since third grade and rekindled their high school relationship. Since New Year’s Eve, the Springfield, Massachusetts native has been running the business with just one of her employees.
But for now, it’s all on hiatus. After a fire that destroyed the garage and part of the house, all they had left was what was in the chip truck so they could take on small jobs.
“We can’t do everything. The rest of the equipment is gone,” Furnari said. “Everything else is gone. In the garage he had 60 to 80 chains. Thousands of tools. I just stand there and watch it burn.”
Kalia Furnari and Chris McCormick, McCormick’s two children. The family runs his Bantam Tree LLC and lost the equipment they use in a garage fire.
Contributed photo/Kalia FurnariBut that disappointment turned to optimism the day after the fire. Neighbors launched his GoFundMe hours after the fire to help the couple in the early stages of recovery. To date, he has raised over $25,000 for his family.
According to Furnari, that’s a huge amount. Miniskid because he has not yet paid for some of the damaged equipment, such as the steer. A physical toll booth job can have a body. According to Furnari, these machines could cost him over $40,000.
“We won’t be able to work this week, or even next week, so we need to figure out what’s in the truck. For now, that will help us get through,” Furnari said of the donation.
The fundraiser was started by two neighbors, Val and Rick Duffy, and their daughter Erin Lafon.
“I am so grateful to them and I love them dearly,” Furnari said of the two. Friends of my sister, people I’ve never met.It’s so heartwarming and makes me feel hopeful about humanity.I can’t believe I’m crying.”
There are other acts of generosity, too, and Furnari said he’s helping his family. , said he was letting his dog Asher stay. She said her sister Alyssa Furnari, her mother, her family and her fiancé’s family are also nearby.
Furnari also credits the Bantam Fire Company’s rapid response efforts in extinguishing the fire in just 15 minutes, as well as the Litchfield, Morris, Torrington, East Litchfield, Northfield, Washington, and Bethlehem fire companies. I admit it.
The Bantam Fire Company and other first responders have brought the fire under control at the home of Bantam Tree LLC owners Kalia Farnari and Chris McCormick. The two lost almost everything they needed to run their business.
Photo contributed by Jeff Padlinski“I’m someone who has a hard time receiving or requesting money,” Furnari said. I know everyone is finding it really hard financially and we’re barely making it.”
This is not the first time Furnari has faced difficulties in recent years. In 2020 her sister passed away and a few months later it was discovered that she had a tumor in her heart that was causing her to have a stroke. Surgery to remove her tumor relieved her of the neuralgia and migraines she had been experiencing for months.
But with that experience and perspective, Furunari is at least grateful that no one was hurt in the fire.
“It’s just. We’re alive,” Furnari said. “It’s hard and heavy right now, but I’m sure I’ll be able to overcome it. With everyone’s help, I’m sure I’ll be able to overcome it. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”
Donations to family GoFundMe can be made online at gofundme.com/f/support-for-chris-kalia.
michael.walsh@hearstmediact.com
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