GREENFIELD — As victims, firefighters and residents reel in the wake of two devastating fires in town, people from across the region are rallying behind two displaced families.

On Saturday night, a Sawmill Road home burned to the ground, leaving six members of the Joslin family uninjured but homeless. The congregational church and elementary school communities spun into action, arranging for clothes, food and shelter. A benefit dinner was quickly scheduled for Feb. 20.

On Monday afternoon, while the wreckage of the Joslin home still smoldered, a fire on the other side of town claimed the historic home of Conrad and Ellen Dumas.

Both fires started and spread quickly, and each presented significant obstacles for firefighters, particularly with regard to quick access to water. Acting Fire Chief Loren White said yesterday that too many factors were out of anyone’s control.

The fact that both homes were total losses takes its toll on emergency responders, White said.

“It’s been emotionally challenging,” he said. “But the fact that some of those things are out of our control can serve as a motivating force. It will push us that much harder next time.”

In the wake of the second fire, what had been an outpouring of community support turned into a flood as neighbors and residents from neighboring towns united to lift the two families.

“This is when you know it’s really good to be living in a small community,” said Administrative Assistant Debra Davidson yesterday. “I think everyone is pulling together. I’m just blown away by how wonderful and generous people are.”

The Rev. Daniel Osgood, pastor of the Greenfield Congregational Covenant Church, agreed, saying times of crisis have a way of uniting various groups. The friendliness of a small community leads to the kind of support that is now under way, but it also makes the pain of each tragedy more keenly felt among neighbors, he said.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose everything you have,” said Osgood.

“For both of these families, this is a long-term ordeal. For a small town to have this kind of thing happen twice, everyone is feeling a little overwhelmed.”

Davidson said she has been working as much as 12 hours per day since Monday to coordinate lodging, furniture and other donations for the two families. The Select Board meeting room at the town offices is slowly filling with donations of all kinds, said Davidson. As of yesterday, she had arranged for Ed and Ellen Joslin and their family to stay in a vacant apartment in downtown Greenfield.

“Ellen said she is feeling better,” said Davidson. “She’s glad she has a focus. Rebuilding a home is something to work toward. It gives them some normalcy.”

For Conrad and Ellen Dumas, comfort comes from their aging dog Flash, who was rescued from the main home following the quick action of a passerby and police Chief Brian Giammarino.

“Taking care of Flash is a little piece of our daily routine,” said Dumas yesterday. “He gives us normalcy.”

So much else, it seems, just serves to remind Dumas of his family’s loss. The challenge of maintaining a flock of sheep, eight of which died in the fire, joins a growing list of obstacles.

“Ellen tried to brush her hair this morning. She doesn’t have a brush. She went to trim one of my whiskers and we don’t have scissors,” smiled Dumas.

Then there are the Dumas family documents and heirlooms, including a genealogy and irreplaceable documents going back to 1630.

“I can’t tell you what a loss this is. It’s not the money; it’s never the money. We were the keepers of the family history,” said Dumas. “It was 20 years of work. My family doesn’t even know some of the stuff I had. They say when there’s a disaster, you go through the ashes and pick up the nails. Well, there are no nails here.”

Dumas and his wife are staying with relatives in Peterborough, wearing clothes provided by friends and neighbors. Dumas said he would remain a Greenfield resident and plans to rebuild.

“There’s a spirit to this place,” said Dumas at the site of his home. “We’ll rebuild not just for us, but for the town. And when it’s done we’ll have an open house and everyone’s welcome.”

In the meantime, various town groups are working to prepare gatherings to support the victims of both fires. A spaghetti and meatballs supper will be served Saturday at the Meeting House from 5 to 7 p.m. Adults are $7 per plate, children $4, and donations are welcome. All proceeds will be split between funds for each family that have been established at Ocean Bank.

To contribute directly to the funds, make checks payable to “Joslin family fire fund” or “Dumas family fire fund,” and bring them to the town office or send them directly to Ocean Bank at P.O. Box 552, Peterborough NH, 03458.

Contact Davidson at the town offices with any donations of furniture, toys, food, clothes, gift certificates, cooking supplies, farming (sheep) supplies or dog food.