Red Cross accepting donations for families

QUINCY - An apartment building in Quincy was damaged by fire Sunday, leaving 18 people homeless.

Grant County Fire District No. 3, the Ephrata Fire Department and Douglas County Fire District No. 2 responded to a fire at Birch Street Apartments, located on Birch Street Southwest.

"It's not destroyed, but it's uninhabitable," Fire District No. 3 Fire Chief Don Fortier said Monday.

One firefighter who responded to the fire went to the emergency room on his own, said Assistant Chief Tony Leibelt.

"He was on the scene and had an unknown medical episode," Leibelt said.

He knew of no injuries to building occupants related to the fire.

Fortier said some resources were diverted from a 3,100-acre wildfire east of Quincy to the apartment fire. The fire was controlled in approximately 45 minutes.

The apartment building contained four units. All were damaged by the fire, Fortier said. The cause is under investigation.

The Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross found temporary housing for the families, said the chapter's Executive Director, Marriah Thornock.

The families are staying in hotels in Quincy, Thornock said. The Red Cross is working with other social service agencies to help the families find permanent housing.

In addition, the organization provided vouchers for food and clothing.

"The damage was so extensive and the families were so distraught that the Red Cross will be working on this fire for quite some time," stated volunteer Cheryl Rondestvedt. "There is nothing left, and many of the family members were in complete disbelief at their loss."

Thornock said neighbors supported the Red Cross as they responded to the incident by providing food and beverages to residences of the apartment, firefighters and volunteers.

She anticipated it would be the most expensive fire this year for which the Red Cross chapter provided relief.

To make a financial contribution to the families, contact the American Red Cross at 509-663-3907.

Checks can also be mailed to Apple Valley Chapter of the Red Cross, 12 Orondo Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801. Checks should be made to the Apple Valley Chapter, with the words "Quincy fire" in the memo.