AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS RESPONDS TO HIGH RISE FIRE

Late Monday night, January 3rd, your American Red Cross of Central Texas was called to a high rise fire at 1801 Lavaca. When our volunteers arrived at the Cambridge Apartments, the Austin Fire Department were  was still trying to contain the fire. Our Red Cross volunteers instantly dove into action, providing blankets, comfort kits, and a listening ear to those affected. Nearly 100 residents waited in the first floor lobby while AFD investigated the cause of the fire and decided who would be able to return to their apartments.  

Our Emergency Response Vehicle was deployed to the scene, and residents and emergency responders alike were given water and snacks. A great thank you to Carole Leandra, Ricky Boyd, Tom Halgash, Larry Baker, Kevin McCoy, Sandy McCoy, and Bill Dorman. As always, the Red Cross could not do what we do without outstanding volunteers like them! 

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS RESPONDS TO HOUSE FIRE IN PFLUGERVILLE

This morning I was reminded, yet again, of why we do what we do. Your American Red Cross of Central Texas responded to a large house fire early this morning. A total of ten people were left homeless, including six children. Our amazing volunteers were there shortly after being notified by the fire department of the incident.

The Red Cross sat down with the family and provided much needed comfort and a listening ear.

The American Red Cross urges all Central Texans to check their fire detectors and have a plan in case of a fire. If you would like further information please click here.

RED CROSS RESPONDS TO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE FIRE IN ELGIN

Your American Red Cross of Central Texas responded to a fire this morning in Elgin which destroyed a family home. Three adults along with ten family pets were displaced.  Thankfully, there were no injuries.  The Red Cross provided shelter and other essentials for the family who had lost their home.  We were grateful to have Carole Leandra, volunteer extraordinaire, on the scene to help assess the family's needs.  Volunteers truly are the backbone of the Red Cross and we couldn't do it without them!

ARC OF CENTRAL TEXAS RESPONDS TO TWO FIRES

Your American Red Cross of Central Texas responded to two fires this weekend. A fire destroyed a family home in the early morning hours on Saturday, May 15^th. The Red Cross provided shelter and other essentials for the couple who had lost their home.

On Sunday, May 16, your Red Cross responded to a massive hotel fire that left 5 people displaced. Smoke from the destroyed building could be seen for miles in both directions on I-35. Twelve volunteers and our Emergency Response Vehicle (the ERV) were deployed shortly after the fire started. They provided food and drink to the eighty or so firefighters who responded to the fire. In addition, the Red Cross had Mental Health volunteers in case anyone needed to talk to someone about the day’s events.  

A great thank you and kudos to our wonderful Disaster Action Team volunteers!!!  

RED CROSS RESPONDS TO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE FIRE IN NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN

From Elaine Acker, CEO

I walked onto the scene of today’s fire on St. John’s Avenue to find the homeowner standing in his backyard with his dog. Both looked bewildered as they watched the firemen inspecting the house to make sure all the flames were indeed out.  I didn’t hear an official assessment from the Fire Department, but I can’t imagine that there’s anything left to salvage.  Our volunteer, Tom, was getting the paperwork ready, using the counter of a grill as a desk. Volunteers like Tom offer immediate reassurance to people who honestly don’t know what will happen next, and that, as the credit card commercials say, is priceless. Whether we’re helping a single homeowner or an entire apartment complex, I’m extremely proud of our volunteers. They do what no one else does in this community.

AND, a quick reminder to all, the time change is this weekend. Firefighters recommend that you check the batteries in your smoke detectors NOW!

WESTHEIMER REGENCY APARTMENTS FIRE

From Volunteer Tom Davis

The fire today was a real catastrophe - the entire middle building of the complex was lost. The left half of the building (viewed from the street) was a total loss; we were told the people wouldn't even be able to get into their apartments to retrieve their belongings. The right half wasn't badly damaged, but the decision was made that it was also uninhabitable; those people will at least be able to go in and retrieve their things, though.

The Fire Department estimated that about 300 people were displaced. Of those, about 100 registered at the reunion center we set up in the cafeteria of Reagan High School, a couple of blocks east of the apartment complex.  Two city buses took people from the apartments to Reagan, and then to the shelter that was set up at Gus Garcia Recreation Center on East Rundberg.

Nearly all the people displaced were Hispanic, and only about half of them spoke English. We had a few Spanish interpreters, but not near what we needed."

City Manager Marc Ott is pictured below with shelter volunteers.

To become a bilingual American Red Cross of Central Texas volunteer, contact Volunteer Services at (512) 929-1225 or volunteerservices@centex.redcross.org.

 

RIVERSIDE APARTMENT FIRE

News 8 Story

 
From Volunteer Tom Davis

The fire itself was in Building 4 of the 4-building Riverside Square complex (Blg. 4 has 10 units/floor and 3 floors). The fire started in, and spread through, the west 3/4 of the 3rd floor. Good news/bad news: the building's structure was sound (except for the totaled units on the 3rd floor), but there was water damage everywhere on the 1st and 2nd floors. They had to turn off power to the whole complex and call in an electrician to separate the power for Blg. 4 from the others before they could turn power back on for blgs. 1-3 and let their residents back in.

Building 4 was declared uninhabitable until it can be repaired or rebuilt.  Austin Fire Chief Kusey assigned an AFD team to talk to Blg. 4's residents, find out what they needed out of their apartments immediately, and go retrieve that. He said everyone would be able to go in and retrieve other belongings later today or tomorrow.

The ARCCT team set up in the office of Riverside Place. There were 11 empty units in Riverside Place, and the management put the people who had pets into them; Carol [Volunteer] said she'd open a shelter for the rest of the Blg. 4 residents who didn't have a place to go.

There were no injuries - to people or pets; only one pet (a dog) didn't make it out with her owner, and a fire fighter went in and got her out from under the bed where she was hiding. 

 

 

 

Tom Davis

SANDPIPER STUDENT HOUSING FIRE

From Kevin & Sandy McCoy, Volunteers

It is just not meant to be. We were about to start our afternoon walk when Mario [Chapa, Staff Emergency Services Specialist] called. “We have another UT Student housing fire.”  

Mario and Worth [Haggerton, Staff partner Services & Planning Specialist] had meetings and wanted to know if we could be downtown by 3:30 in order to wait for students returning from work or school.   

 

We loaded up the Jeep with our gear and were on our way. The fire was at 2810 Rio Grande – only two blocks from the Student Housing Fire 4 days ago! This fire started at the join where two buildings had been built side by side. That created a thin void, and it was in this void where the fire started. The building was quite old but had been remodeled several times. A few apartments were damaged badly, and several others had water damage. Some vehicles were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were also damaged.

By the time we arrived Mario had a damage assessment done and many of the students had been worked with. The Dean of Students at the university was very helpful in arranging for alternative housing, excuses for late assignments, etc. The housing complex was working very quickly as well to clear up the damage and start repairs.

Worth was there with the Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and students and firefighters stopped by for water and a snack. Only a few apartments had been badly damaged and we helped those folks as best we could. By the end of the day the Red Cross Team had worked with 22 students. Everyone had a place to stay and their next few days of food and shelter arranged. We only had to help out in a few special cases due to the resourcefulness of the students and the help of the Dean.

The students spoke highly of the fire department for saving as much as they could and for how quickly they were able to get the fire under control. The fire department also had community support person at the scene. Some students were at school, and others were at work. So we stayed until students had been notified, and had time to make it back. They were allowed into the building to get their possessions, and we assisted the late arrivals that needed it.

Jaylie Mecray and her dad Jay Mecray live on Rio Grande Drive. They came by to see the fire trucks and we inducted Jaylie as our youngest volunteer and gave her a very official Red Cross Disaster Services Vest.

A job well done, and with all the student issues met, we closed the scene. Sandy and I are very grateful that no one has been injured in the two fires we have worked on this week. The students are very resourceful in making their own arrangements, and grateful for the assistance they receive.