Just as clearing begins for the Station Fire Memorial in West Warwick, Centreville Bank stepped forward with a $150,000 donation recently at the bank’s West Warwick headquarters.

The land for the memorial, the site of the fire, was recently cleared. Foundation President Gina Russo said construction would continue moving forward, and if all goes to plan the project should be completed by spring of 2016.

Several weeks ago the foundation learned of the bank’s donation, the largest made to the $2 million campaign thus far.

“It’s been a whirlwind ever since. We never thought we would get something like this,” Russo said. “This means everything to us.”

With the addition of Centreville’s donation, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation has reached $850,000 in their goal.

Thomas Lamb, president of Centreville Bank, said that the bank has a history with the fire from some of their employees losing loved ones to the fist responders being some of the bank’s customers. They wanted to do something in recognition of their customers and employees that would help the memorial project, especially in its early stages of construction.

Lamb said, “We always felt involved because it was in our backyard.”

“It’s close to their heart like it’s close to ours,” Russo said.

Robert Pare, who was president at the time of the fire, was at the check presentation ceremony.

“I’m happy to see the project finally moving forward,” Pare said, “especially for those who lived through it to see something accomplished there.” Also in attendance was former Governor Donald Carcieri, campaign co-chair with Russo.

Russo said, “To know that one industry, one company, thought enough of the victims to do this speaks volumes to the dedication of this community to seeing the victims remembered.”

Lamb hopes Centreville’s donation will “inspire” others to make donations and the bank’s own will be significant enough to assist the project moving forward.

For more information or to donate to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation visit their website, www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org.