Rachael Ray, Her Husband, and Pup Are Safe After Fire at Their Upstate Home – ‘The House Is Unfortunately Damaged’
Firefighters responded to a large fire at Food Network star Rachael Ray’s upstate New York home, where she had been staying with her husband and pets during the pandemic.
According to reports, Ray, 51, her husband John Cusimano, 52, and their dog, Bella Boo Blue, are safe and not harmed.
Fire spread through Rachael Ray’s upstate New York home
According to reports, the fire went through the upstate New York home that Ray shared with her husband throughout the current pandemic. Located on Lake Luzerne, the home is about half an hour away from Lake George, where Ray was raised. The couple have owned the home since 2013.
Ray’s representative, Charlie Dougiello, said in a statement, “Thanks for the concern. Rachael, her husband and their dog Bella are safe. The house is unfortunately damaged and we don’t yet know to what extent.”
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Ray had been filming her ‘Rachael Ray’ show at the home
When it became apparent in March that authorities were urging residents everywhere to stay indoors due to the pandemic, the Food Network star moved to her upstate home.
Once they settled in, Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, began filming her show in earnest.
“We have never worked this hard in our entire lives,” Ray said. Her show was temporarily renamed #StayHome With Rachael and filmed twice a week from her home.
“This is a weird time. I can’t say there’s a silver lining … but there are found moments every day,” she said during her first filmed show.
She and her husband have been generous throughout pandemic
Ray and her husband have been incredibly generous during the pandemic and now find themselves in danger of losing a home that has been filled with memories and worth much more than any dollar amount.
The couple pledged $4 million for those in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Half of their donation was funneled through her nonprofit, Yum-o! The pair is working with with Feeding America, Share Our Strength, World Central Kitchen, The National Restaurant Association, City Harvest, Hunger Free America, Wholesome Wave, and ReThink Food to feed anyone in need, and specifically most recently, those affected by unemployment.
The 30-Minute Meals star said at that time in a statement on her website, “My overall goal with these donations is to support American families affected during the Covid-19 crisis with assistance for two-legged and four-legged family members.”
Aimed as well at helping animals during this time, Ray and her husband stated on their website at that time, “We felt it was important to help offset the decline in donations organizations have experienced, from a combination of the cancellation of fundraising events and reduced private donations.”
