Community helping victims of California fire that destroyed multiple residences
No injuries reported in fast-moving blaze that displaced 17 people
The community is rallying to help the victims of a fast-moving fire that destroyed an apartment building and damaged several nearby homes in California Borough over the weekend, leaving 17 people homeless.
Both financial and clothing donations were pouring in at various locations across the borough after the fire destroyed the duplex and caused heavy damage to the neighboring houses in the 100 block of Liberty Street shortly after noon Saturday.
Ambrea Taylor, who lived in the duplex where the fire appears to have started, said she heard a pounding at her door from her sister urging her to get out of the house. As she and the other occupants of the duplex got outside, she saw a wall of fire as the structure quickly became engulfed in flames
“We got outside and the house went up in flames,” she said.
She and her brother and her two young children are among the six families that lost everything and are now without a home. Taylor was standing outside of the duplex Monday morning surveying the damage, although nothing appeared to be salvageable. Taylor, who is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross, said the community has rallied around the victims with donations and multiple Go Fund Me online fundraising accounts set up to help the families.
“I’m so thankful,” she said. “I can’t even begin to express my thanks. I feel so bad for everyone.”
The California Volunteer Fire Department was one of the locations accepting donations, and fire Chief Tom Hartley said they quickly filled one of the garage bays and were able to transport those goods to the middle school to be distributed. A training room in the fire hall was still filled with various clothing, shoes and toiletries that were neatly sorted and awaiting to be given to the families.
“This is unbelievable,” Hartley said of the community’s generosity.
No deaths or injuries were reported in the blaze, which Hartley attributed to the fire happening in the middle of the day rather than overnight when the families would have been asleep. But the hot temperatures Saturday afternoon and the ferocious nature of the fire made it difficult to battle, although people and businesses came out to supply firefighters with water and frozen treats to keep them cool.
“Even on the day of the fire, individuals and businesses were bringing us water and ice pops. All that help, it was all day,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy fire (to fight). It was a tough fire on a hot day.”
A dozen fire departments from Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties assisted California in battling the fire, along with medical help from Brownsville Ambulance.
Hartley added that his department would continue accepting donations – preferably in the evening hours when he knows the fire hall at 1000 Wood St. will be staffed – along with the fire departments in Brownsville.
Shirley Peck of Centerville showed up Monday morning with bags of supplies to donate at the California United Methodist Church, although workers there said they were directing donations to either the local fire department or the California Area School District.
“I have a bunch of stuff I wanted to donate,” Peck said. “They can go through and see what they want. Every little bit counts. It’s a tragedy.”
While the church had been listed as a donation center this week in various Facebook posts, staffing issues and space constraints made that difficult to accommodate. A member of the church said they were opening up their thrift shop to allow the affected families to pick and choose any items they need.
Donations are apparently also being accepted at California’s youth football and cheer practices this week. The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are also assisting the victims of the fire.
The state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, although no details were available as of Monday afternoon.