Grapevine community helping victims of apartment blaze

The Grapevine community, including the local charity GRACE, is working to help displaced victims after a fire raced through the attic of two apartment buildings of the Ridgecrest Apartments.

GRACE and the American Red Cross were on hand May 18 assisting displaced families who were sheltered at Compass Christian Church that night, according to Shonda Schaefer, executive director of GRACE.

“We have about 25 people,” Schaefer said. “Eight are children and three are under 6 months.”

Schaefer said the Red Cross was providing food, cots and other immediate needs while GRACE would provide for “longer term needs.”

GRACE also was coordinating with Grapevine Police Department’s Community Outreach Center.

According to Fire Chief Darrell Brown, the department responded at 11:38 a.m. to a reported kitchen fire in an apartment in the 2800 block of Mustang Drive.

Responding companies found fire had spread into the attic of the apartments.

Two guinea pigs were found safe in a bathtub and removed from an apartment and were taken to the Grapevine Animal Shelter.

The fire involved 28 units and displaced 42 residents, officials said.

Firefighters from Bedford, Keller, Lewisville, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Euless and DFW Airport assisted with the fire. A total of 12 engines and six ladder trucks had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, Brown said.

The roofs and second-floor units of two of the complex’s three buildings were heavily damaged.

A temporary shelter was set up by GRACE and The American Red Cross at the church. Thirteen residents spent the night in the shelter and received assistance from GRACE and the Red Cross.

Efforts began immediately to find more permanent living arrangements for the displaced residents.

Fire investigation determined that the fire was caused by unattended cooking, officials said. The occupants where the fire originated and all others escaped without injury.

“The building is not fire sprinkler protected and it is not known at this time if the apartment had a working smoke alarm,” Brown said in a news release. “The safety message from this fire is: Never leave cooking unattended.” And a working smoke alarm may save your life. If this building was protected by fire sprinklers, this fire would not have spread beyond the kitchen. Smoke alarms and fire sprinklers save lives and property.”

Schaefer said the Red Cross began assistance as soon as they arrived, providing food, cots and other immediate needs, but GRACE provides “longer term needs.”

GRACE (Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange), is a nonprofit relief agency that provides food, clothing, medical care, financial assistance, housing and other vital items to those in need.

Schaefer said at this time, no item donations are needed but financial assistance would be welcome.

To help, go to their website, www.gracegrapevine.org and contribute to the fire fund.

Schaefer said 100 percent of specially marked donations will go directly to the fund.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Grapevine community helping victims of apartment blaze."