New Year’s weekend was an unusually busy time for Red Cross Los Angeles Region volunteers and staff.
Spurred by the terrible spate of arson in the West Hollywood, Hollywood and San Fernando Valley areas, as well as non-arson-related fires — the Red Cross opened over a dozen separate cases helping people in need of housing, health services, food and comfort. The Red Cross responded to a total of eight local fires over the long weekend.
Nearly 30 Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers and eight duty officers attended to the immediate needs of families, individuals and pets whose lives were impacted by the fires over the long weekend.
Two of the fires the Red Cross responded to — in Sunland and in Hollywood —were reported to be arson-caused. Helen Lemich, a duty officer, helped direct a six-person DAT team to the Sunland fire on December 29, where five units housing 13 people were affected.
Michael Hicks, a DAT Leader in the Los Angeles Region, was on site at the Hollywood arson-caused fire where two units of a ten-unit apartment building were damaged. One of the residents suffered from smoke inhalation, and the Red Cross has followed up with health services as well and information about community resources.
Red Cross duty officers and Disaster Action Teams are on call around the clock, ready to respond whenever needed in emergencies.
By Sue Reiner, Communications Volunteer
Tags: arson fires, house fires
