UPDATE:March 28, 2018 1:15 P.M. – Red Cross partners, the Seventh Day Adventists will open a drop off center and distribution center for people affected by the Sunstone Townhomes Fire. The center will open at 8:00 a.m. for drop off and distribution.
The center is in the gymnasium building at the Springs Adventist Academy located at 5410 Palmer Park Blvd. in Colorado springs, CO. See location map below.
Location of the drop-off and pick up location.
Anyone wanting to donate items to help the people affected by the Sunstone Townhomes Fire should take the items to the center. People in need of items can pick them up at the center after 8:00 A.M. Thursday. Please bring proof of address to prove that you were impacted by the fire.
As of noon there were 7 families who have not contacted the Red Cross case workers. We urge those people to contact them by calling 719-785-2768.
Over the next few days the goal will be to determine what needs are unmet and to find resources for those needs. A several organizations who are members of the Southeast Colorado Volunteers Active in Disaster (VOAD) are working on recovery plans and locating resources.
UPDATE: March 28, 2018 – The Red Cross shelter located at the Heritage Pentecostal Church, on 2950 Monica Drive West, will close at noon today, (Wednesday). Red Cross case workers will be at the church until no
The scorched remains of townhomes show the devestation. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
on. People can also call our case work at 719-785-2768 to speak to a caseworker.
The fire broke out Monday afternoon and eventually consumed 20 homes. More than 70 people gathered at the Heritage Pentecostal Church and they were welcomed by the church and the Red Cross. While most of the residents spent the night with family, friends, or in hotels, the Red Cross opened the shelter to support those with no place to stay. Only 10 people stayed at the shelter Monday night. By midday the population at the church grew quickly as people gathered to learn about there homes.
Sharlene (l) works with caseworkers Kathy Sharkey and Stuart Nieburg (r). Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
The Red Cross started a case work effort to try and identify needs and match them with resources. Sharlene Janvier, a soldier at Fort Carson, came to find some help to recover. She had received support from military associations it would only cover lodging for a few days. The Red Cross was able to provide some additional support the would help with food, clothing and other needs. Charlene expressed her appreciation with, “When this happens everything goes away. You need all the help you can get.”
A whiteboard at the shelter shows community support for the families displaced by the fire. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
People continued to welcome the support from the Red Cross and by the end of the day Tuesday 15 cases were opened helping over 50 people. Each family was met with compassion and care. They also received support for the road ahead as they worked on recovery plans.
To learn more about the Red Cross Disaster Service program or the other service programs of the Red Cross visit redcross.org.
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Sunstone Townhomes Fire – March 25, 2018
Fire broke out in apartments on Charleston St in Colorado Springs. Twenty units were affected by the fire and the families were evacuated to the First Pentecostal Church on Monica St. West just a couple blocks from the apartment complex. Seventy people evacuated to the church. At 7 PM it became apparent that most of the families would not be returning to their homes overnight. The Red Cross opened the church as a shelter and quickly began bring in cots an blankets.
Martin HInes (l) thanks Jason White from Papa Johns. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
The Salvation Army brought in dinner for the crowd and the local Papa Johns donated more tha
Church members and the Salvation Army kept people fed. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
n a dozen pizzas. Fire crews from Colorado Springs Fire Department were also fed at the Church.
Members of the First Pentecostal Church rallied to help. Volunteers from the church provided food, snacks and water along with a caring heart to make the affected people as comfortable as possible.
Rebecca Hanson and her sons brought clothing and other items to help the displaced families. Photo by Bill Fortune/American Red Cross
Nearby residents have also jumped in to help the families bringing water, food and clothing. By 9 p.m. the amount of clothing was already exceeding the space available. The church and the Red Cross have asked people to take donated items to the Salvation Army where they have room and the staffing to sort and store items.
It will be a long night for the people staying at the Red Cross shelter. A long night but comforting to know that the Red Cross, the church and the Colorado Springs community are ready to help.
I thought it was a brush fire. I didn’t hear anything from anyone in the Pikes Peak Chapter about this and I would have helped if I had known.
Christineann, Please check your availability on Volunteer Connection and make sure that your GAP and training is up to date. I will pass your comment to our Leads for followup.
What items are needed, I see in the photos there is a lot of items. However, is there things that are fewer that we can bring?
Sorry for the delayed response and thank you for you desire to help. The community responded in an amazing way but at this time the needs are being met.