Marlborough Family Struggling to Recover from House Fire

A Marlborough family burned from its home on Nov. 5 is still trying to recover, financially and emotionally.

Collette Sychantha and her two college-age sons, as well as her brother, lost their family home and all of their possessions in an early morning fire. The house, at 38 Lakeshore Dr., was a total loss.

The cause has not been determined, according to the Marlborough Fire Department. The fire required mutual aid assistance from Southborough. Initially, firefighters fought the fire inside, but had to evacuate for safety reasons.

For the past seven weeks, Sychantha said she and her sons have been living at an extended-stay hotel in Marlborough, and trying to find an apartment in the area. Sychantha, who is disabled, said it's been difficult.

"We've been struggling," she said.

To help cover expenses, a family friend, Jessica Tower, has established a site on GoFundMe for the family.

Sychantha has not yet received an insurance settlement for the house, which she said was built by her grandfather in the mid-1960s. In addition to losing the house and their possessions, she said, the family lost its Chihuahua and 10 caged cockatiels in the fire.

Her 19-year-old son burned his hand trying to save the animals, and Sychantha also had minor injuries. Both were treated and released from Marlborough hospital following the fire.