Community Donating For Families Affected By Fire
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DALLAS (CBS11) - Eight Dallas families find themselves without a home this Thanksgiving, after an early morning fire at an apartment complex.
Fire broke out at the Sierra Vista Apartments on Northaven Road in Northwest Dallas around 6:30 a.m.
Everyone was able to safely get out, but eight units in the building were damaged.
Fire fighters determined the fire to be accidental; they say it started in the attic, and may have been caused by an electrical spark.
The Red Cross provided vouchers for families to temporarily stay in a hotel, but many chose to go to relatives' homes. It may be December before the apartments damaged are livable.
Margo Rodriguez, the manager of the apartment complex, says most of the tenants are low-income families who do not have renter's insurance.
She's collecting donations in the apartment complex rec center to meet some of the immediate needs.
"All the downstairs units, it was like raining inside the apartments. The fire fighters tried to cover most of the stuff, but there's still damage. We don't know how much," said Rodriguez.
She says most, if not all of the families, have children or babies.
"When I walked into one of the units, I could see all the debris and the water was just on top of the baby furniture," said Rodriguez.
Some strangers and members from the surrounding community have already donated a few bags of items of clothing.
Rodriguez says she plans to collect goods at the office, focusing on the needs of the children.
Donations can be dropped off at the Sierra Vista Apartments office, 2775 Northaven Road, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone number is: (972) 247-4914.
The office staff is collecting clothing, winter coats, adult beds, baby cribs and other gear for children.
Rodriguez says the sizes needed range from infant through adult.
The office will be closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, but Rodriguez plans to take in items after the holiday as well.
"We're not just helping because it's Thanksgiving. We're helping because it's the right thing to do," the manager said.
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