Red Cross Helps Detroit Families Displaced By Fire
DETROIT (WWJ) - Dozens of families are displaced after a fire tears through an apartment building in Detroit. It happened Saturday night on the city's eastside at Seven Mile and Mapleview.
John Mozena, disaster volunteer with the Southeast Michigan Chapter Red Cross, said after the fire, the organization has a lot of work on their hands.
"This was a fairly big fire for us. It was, I believe, a 52-unit building and there are 37 occupied units. So that means there's a lot of people here, up to 37 families, that we may need to provide assistance for, food, clothing, shelter, the kinds of things the Red Cross does in times of emergency."
Mozena said his crew is already stretched pretty thin, after sending volunteers out to help with storm damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
"We've sent a dozen volunteers already, out to the east coast of Virginia up to Massachusetts, to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Irene. These are the same types of volunteers that respond to things like this, fires in Southeastern Michigan. So, we've got the capability to help right here, but this is a very busy time for the Red Cross."
Three people suffered injuries from the fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
