New housing found for nearly 40 tenants displaced by Sacramento County apartment complex fire
American Red Cross shares update with Metro Fire crews that responded to North Highlands Fire
American Red Cross shares update with Metro Fire crews that responded to North Highlands Fire
American Red Cross shares update with Metro Fire crews that responded to North Highlands Fire
Dozens of people displaced by a large fire at a North Highlands apartment complex were able to land on their feet and find new homes, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
The fire happened Nov. 19 along A Street, just off Watt Avenue, west of the Capital City Freeway. Flames ripped through the two-building, 32-unit complex where the destruction is still visible and the site is now surrounded by fencing as of Monday.
After fires like these leave people without a home, updates are not usually shared about where the people are, but the American Red Cross provided the fire department with what's happened in the days since the fire.
That message read, in part: "Do your firefighters ever leave a scene wondering about the future of the folk they've left behind? We believe they do so this is for them."
In fact, the community wondered about the fate of the 40 residents sent running and even jumping from second-floor balconies for their lives – expressing their concern on social media.
The flames had been so intense and severe that it took nearly 80 firefighters to put them out.
One of the buildings is a total loss. The other lost power because the wind-driven fire took down overhead power lines, so the people from the entire complex were left without places to stay.
According to the Red Cross, many of them recently moved into the complex after escaping homelessness. At the end of last week, Sacramento County and the Red Cross set up a shelter for them.
The Red Cross said the site had two nurses, three mental health care workers, two recovery supervisors, and several Disaster Action Team (DAT) responders assisting the displaced residents.
The Red Cross also elaborated on how the building's management stepped up in the residents’ time of need.
“Well, the building management returned within two days to refund security deposits. For two nights, they had footed hotel bills for those who had no place to go and feared returning to a shelter if even for a few days,” said Patricia Davis, the American Red Cross Sacramento County community disaster program manager, in a note to Metro Fire.
Davis’ message went on to read: “Lunch arrived, but how? Building management had donated a full meal for clients and agency reps alike. And then the critical news: they had already found new housing for nearly all of their tenants. Only a handful remained to be placed.”
The final sentiment expressed in the message from Davis to Metro fire read, “So if anybody asks you, you can say simply about A Street Sacramento, ‘They're gonna make it.’"
The message about the residents’ status was shared with KCRA 3 by Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn of Sacramento Metro Fire.
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