Amazing how JWs can accept help from the Red Cross but cannot donate to it?
http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/02/10/16/15955751.cfm#top
Fire uproots dozens
Historic Everett building is damaged
Everett firefighters battle a chimney fire that spread to the roof of a historic building on Rucker Avenue early Tuesday, displacing eight families. The two-alarm fire caused damage estimated at $200,000. [Click photo to enlarge] Friends and neighbors check out the damage caused by Tuesday's fire on Rucker Avenue in Everett. Garbage bags were used to collect tenants' belongings. [Click photo to enlarge] |
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- Iram Perdraza stood on the sidewalk Tuesday morning clutching his small suitcase of Matchbox cars and watching as other residents tried to salvage their belongings from their fire-damaged homes.
At about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, a motorist noticed flames coming from the large, historic building in the 2100 block of Rucker Avenue and stopped to bang on doors and alert residents to the fire.
Iram's family, like most of the other tenants, was asleep.
"My dad said the house was on fire," Iram said, pointing to the top floor, where much of the roof was consumed by flames and what remained was blackened. The ground floor and basement sustained extensive water damage.
The young boy described how his father opened a door to the attic and saw nothing but flames.
The fire, which appears to have been accidental, began as a chimney fire that spread to the roof, causing damage estimated at $200,000, Everett Fire Marshal Warren Burns said. The blaze displaced all 34 residents of the eight-unit apartment building.
Owner Arthur Hopkins said he wasn't sure if the building was covered by insurance.
The Snohomish County chapter of the American Red Cross provided assistance to the tenants, including 13 who spent the night on cots at the chapter house, 2530 Lombard Ave. The rest found places to stay with friends and relatives, said Kris Krischano, chapter spokesman.
Later in the morning, the tenants were invited to a free breakfast at the chapter house provided by the 41st Street Bar and Grill.
Red Cross workers helped families assess their losses and determine their immediate needs for shelter, food and other things. Since most of the residents are Hispanic, the agency called in translators to help the workers. They also informed firefighters of one woman's need for medication, and Everett firefighters went back into her apartment to get it, Krischano said.
Local Jehovah's Witnesses gathered outside to help as well. Some of the tenants are members of their congregation, and they helped translate, carry armloads of soggy papers, a dripping guitar, small appliances and other belongings outside, putting some on blankets spread on the front lawn.
The house, built in 1906, is in the city's historic district, city building officials said.
All of the city's on-duty firefighters -- nearly three dozen -- battled the blaze and contained the fire to the top floor, Burns said. Firefighters from Marysville, Naval Station Everett and Snohomish County Fire District 1 manned the city stations during the emergency.
Several people who watched the fire burn while awaiting the arrival of firefighters complained that it took a long time for them to arrive.
"You hear that almost anytime you have a working fire," Burns said. "When you're watching property burn, time seems to stand still."
Dispatch records indicated that firefighters were on the scene in about three minutes, he said.
"They got the fire just in time," said resident Kari Anderson, 18. "There was a guy knocking on the door telling us to run because it was on fire. You could feel the heat on your face. It was jus so scary walking out, because you could see the fire in the air."
"When we got out, we saw everything was yellow," said Jesus Estrada, 21.
Francisco Ruiz's family lives across the alley.
"My wife was changing the baby's diaper and she heard people screaming," he said. "I opened the window and said, 'There's a lot of fire! Let's get out.'"
Robert Loyd lives across the street. His son woke up during the night and came to his bedroom and woke his parents.
"My wife got up to go the bathroom and saw the flames," Loyd said. He, like other neighbors, called 911.
"It's really sad," he said. "It's one of the most gorgeous houses around here."
Residents were also concerned about a litter of wild kittens living under the house that some have been feeding.
You can call Herald Writer Cathy Logg at 425-339-3437 or send e-mail to [email protected].