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With temperatures below 30 degrees, a devastating multi-alarm fire broke out on Saturday evening at the Links of Windsor Apartment complex off of Hodges Blvd at about 10PM. The Northeast Florida Chapter responded with numerous Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers, chapter staff and an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) team.
Approximately 20 apartments were either totally destroyed or had major damage displacing some 50 residents. The on-scene DAT team members started casework for more than 20 families, providing clothing, food, and assistance in temporary housing to those displaced.
The Chet's Creek Church membership, located across the street from the fire, opened it's doors to provide temporary shelter for the residents of the apartment complex to get out of the cold weather until arrangements could be made for them. They also provided coffee and hot chocolate to both the residents at the church and the emergency responders on the scene.
By 2:30 AM most of the residents had been helped and Red Cross volunteers and staff headed home. A few returning again Sunday morning to write more Client Assistance Forms for those residents who were not at home when the fire started Saturday night. The fire department crews were also still on the scene as well, putting out hot spots that kept popping up more than 12 hours after the original fire was put out.
All in all, it was a very busy event for your local Red Cross. A very special thanks to all of the Red Cross volunteers for answering the call and doing such a great job for such a tragic event.
Click here to view photos of the fire. |
