The American Red Cross of Santa Monica responded to a call from Santa Monica Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Torres at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 29, to an apartment fire in the 800 block of Pearl Street in Sunset Park.
At 8:40 a.m., a fire in a top floor apartment in the Pearl Street building was reported. Firefighters went immediately to the scene. One adult and one teenager occupied the apartment. The teenager jumped from the second floor of the five-unit, multi-family dwelling, and was sent to a local hospital to be treated. The adult did not require medical assistance. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
As water and smoke damage rendered the apartment uninhabitable, the Santa Monica Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) provided emergency assistance to the victims, which included housing at a local motel until Tuesday and an assistance debit card with funds for food and other necessities for the family.
Additional support for the victims will include help with longer term relocation and counseling services, if needed.
DAT members Jerry Washington, Nicole Leiser, Jonathan Quintana, and Jean Milan answered the Saturday call. DAT members are trained volunteers who are available 24/7 to respond to emergency calls and to render service to disaster victims.
The American Red Cross of Santa Monica, is a publicly supported, 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides health and safety education, youth services, blood services, CPR and first aid training, disaster awareness and disaster relief efforts. It is located at 1450 11th Street, in Santa Monica. For information, phone 310-394-3773 or go online at www.redcrosssofsantamonica.org.