Red Cross Helps Displaced Owings Mills Residents After 3-Alarm Blaze
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ)—Picking up the pieces after a devastating fire in Owings Mills that left 13 families homeless.
Andrea Fujii explains one organization is leading the way in providing help to those affected.
Investigators say it was a cooking fire that engulfed one townhome in Owings Mills and quickly spread to 12 others.
The devastation is now estimated at more than $1 million.
"How many people are without homes now in this heat; it's horrible," said one witness.
Several residents are now staying with family members. Others are being housed in apartments.
One family is receiving temporary housing from the Red Cross.
"People yesterday in Owings Mills were grateful to get the help that they needed," said Douglas Lent, Red Cross Central Maryland.
The Red Cross also assisted nearly all the families with essentials to get them by physically and emotionally.
"We provided these Mickey Mouse dolls to some of the kids," Lent said. "A lot of the kids were affected by this fire, and when they lose everything this becomes the only toy that they own."
No one was hurt. But a day after the fire with homes still smoldering, residents realize they must start from scratch.
"They told me it's totally gone," said one resident.
But the Red Cross says they're there to help.
Since July 1, the Red Cross of Central Maryland has provided disaster relief for 26 different fires and storms. Click here if you'd like to donate.
