Fifteen people slept at an American Red Cross Shelter following a deadly fire that ripped through a Monona apartment complex early Saturday.
Red Cross staff plan to continue feeding and procuring medication for those displaced by the fire, which numbered in the dozens, said Laura McGuire, a spokesperson for the Red Cross in Wisconsin.
Between 30 and 35 residents were at a shelter set up at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Monona as of Saturday afternoon, and the Red Cross and Monona Fire Department is in talks with the apartment’s property manager to determine if and when resident’s can return.
Most of those displaced by the fire found family and friends to stay with, but the number of people at the shelter continues to fluctuate, McGuire said.
People are also reading…
Plans are underway to open a Multi-Agency Resource Center through the Red Cross, which will coordinate with local agencies to provide long-term housing and clothes to those displaced by the fire.
“We’re in for a long haul,” McGuire said.
Monona Fire Chief Jeremy McMullen said there was no new information to release Sunday on the investigation into the fire, which killed one person and caused more than $2 million in damage to the apartment building at 353 Owen Road.
The Dane County Medical Examiner had not released the name of the person killed in the fire.
Calls to 911 began pouring in from the building around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The fire, which appeared unintentional, was subdued by firefighters by 9 a.m., McMullen said.
Most of those at the shelter were age 50 and older, McGuire said.
The Red Cross is also working with volunteers to secure mental health resources for those displaced.
“Every time there’s a fire, it’s their darkest day,” McGuire said of those impacted.
Donations or help can be arranged through the Red Cross at 1-800-236-8680.