Two-story apartment complex damaged after fire started in basement
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
Seven families, totaling 14 people, are picking up the pieces after a Nov. 20 fire at their apartment complex on Hartwell Street left them searching for temporary homes.
Elkhorn Fire Chief Rod Smith said the Nov. 20 fire in an eight-apartment complex at 445 Hartwell St. was reported at 8:24 p.m.
Smith said the fire is believed to have started in the basement near a portable ice shanty that had been set up. He said at this time the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
According to Smith, most of the fire damage was contained to the basement, though two apartments above received minor fire damage extended there by a pipe chase. Smith said the rest of the building received smoke damage.
At this time, Smith said the building remains inhabitable due to extensive electrical damage caused by the fire.
Jason Troy, who owns the apartment complex, said as far as he knows, the seven families are doing well and as the fire was not a total loss, he hopes to have repairs completed and have the residents back in their apartments in the next 90 days.
Troy said while the building is not inhabitable at this point, residents have been able to get back in to their apartments and collect needed belongings.
Both Troy and Smith said they were unaware of anyone collecting donations for the family at this time.
American Red Cross
Barbara Behling, a spokesperson with the American Red Cross, said the organization extended its services to all seven families.
Behling said the American Red Cross was originally called by the Elkhorn Police Department and assisted four families financially and one declined support.
Behling said as electricity had been disconnected when they arrived for safety reasons and the building was uninhabitable, the organization began to ask questions to find out whether or not the families would be staying with friends and family or whether they would like help in covering the cost of a hotel for a few nights until they can find something a little more permanent.
Unfortunately, Behling said when it comes to home fires, this time of the year is one of the American Red Cross’s busiest times of the year with the majority of fires stemming from cooking incidents.
Behling said however, the organization’s financial support doesn’t just help families find a new temporary dwelling. She said assistance helps to cover items such as food, clothing, infant supplies and more. Behling also noted blankets, toiletries and other tangible necessities provided to families by the American Red Cross goes above and beyond provided financial service.
Furthermore, Behling said the American Red Cross assists victims of fires in fulfilling immediate medial needs.
“I like to use the example that if you had high blood pressure before a fire, it’s only going to go up,” she said.
In the event residents are unable to get into a building to gather much-needed medications or medical supplies, such as oxygen tanks, Behling said the American Red Cross’s health services department is actually able to fill a prescription or get medical supplies for individuals and families in the middle of the night.
“That way there doesn’t become a secondary emergency based off of the fire,” she said. “It’s really making sure you have everything you need for your health as well as your emotional state.
“We really kind of pull some rabbits out of our hats at times.”
In addition, Behling said the American Red Cross also offers emotional assistance to fire victims, noting for example when people lose pets or even worse, a family member, in a fire it can be a very emotional experience.
“We can give them a shoulder to lean on,” she said. “We have licensed therapists, counselors and psychiatrists on call who can provide a professional ear and help them through the emotional stress in the coming weeks.”
Behling said services even include checklists to help displaced residents get back on their feet through finding a new residence on short-notice and getting their security deposits and pro-rated rent back to help fund the search for a new dwelling.
Behling said services such as those accepted by the four Elkhorn families are completely funded by donations from the community and the other organizations and provided by volunteers.
“It’s really an amazing service,” she said, noting many people don’t realize how much they truly need the organization’s help until talking with volunteers.
“It really is a gift from the American people for the American people.”
