Our Hometown
|
|
Red Cross responds to apartment fire in Marion Just after 11 p.m. last evening, the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to an apartment complex fire on Main St. in Marion. The building was fully engulfed in flames when Red Cross arrived; all residents were safely evacuated to the Marion Fire Department. Fire fighters from Marion, Walworth, Williamson, and Palmyra poured over one million gallons of water on the fire for more than nine hours. The blaze may have started near a garbage toter. The building, owned by Newark landlord Chris Avery, was heavily damaged and according to Avery, is a total loss. The apartment building formerly housed the Marion Candy Kitchen and many other businesses. According to Carolyn Adriaansen, Marion Town Historian, the landmark building was well over 100 years old. Formerly known as the 'Clark Block,' it included the First Baptist Church, a building that was moved to Main Stret from the former East Street, (now Maple Avenue.) Firefighters were called back to the site this morning to extinguish a re-kindle of the blaze. Red Cross Executive Director James Love said there were 12 apartment units in the complex, and 10 were occupied at the time of the fire. Twenty-three people were displaced by the blaze. Red Cross provided emergency shelter for half of the victims, and provided client assistance cards for food, clothing, and other household essentials for all victims. This is the third multi-unit fire in six months that the Chapter has responded to. 'Between the 1812 Hotel Fire in Sodus in April, the Macedon Manor Complex Fire in June, and this fire in Marion, emergency relief funds are at a critical level,' said Disaster Director Woody Seufert. He added, 'We are encouraging everyone in the county to consider giving just $5 in support of the local disaster relief fund. It may not seem like a lot, but it means so much to the victims of such a tragic situation.' Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, 400 S. Main St., Newark 14513. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Your donations help the Wayne County Chapter provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of local disasters. Staff writer/reporter John Zornow contributed to this story. Copyright
©
2008 |
    Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information  |
