PIO at Red Cross shelter for fire survivors

No one was injured but many residents were displaced following an apartment fire near Indian School Road and 29th Street in Phoenix last Thursday morning.

According to news reports, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second and third floors when they arrived around 7:45 a.m. Firefighters cut holes in the roof to vent the fire.

Three apartments were damaged by fire. Nine units had smoke and water damage.

The American Red Cross responded to the scene and set up a shelter inside a former Scottsdale Unified School District office, to help the displaced residents. The Arizona Humane Society had staff on hand to help with any pets.

I was the Red Cross spokesman at the shelter on Saturday, and also mentored a PIO trainee. It was wonderful to see all our volunteers giving their time to assist the survivors, who were provided food, snacks and a place to sleep. We also had a nurse on site, who was really nice.

AP picked up the story with quotes from me. And it was printed in a newspaper in Virginia, of all places:  http://www.heraldcourier.com/…/article_856ff1f0-fbca-5ed7-b…