The Hollister branch of the American Red Cross continues to help
those displaced from their homes after a blaze that destroyed a
10-unit apartment complex in San Juan Bautista on Nov. 26.
The Hollister branch of the American Red Cross continues to help those displaced from their homes after a blaze that destroyed a 10-unit apartment complex in San Juan Bautista on Nov. 26.
The fire, which killed 69-year-old Ann Mills and injured 70-year-old Mark Forrester, started around 8:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at a two-story apartment building on Fifth Street near the Windmill Market.
The cause of the fire remained unknown as of Friday, San Juan Bautista Fire Chief Chris Finstad said. Firefighters continued to search for a cause, while Finstad could not be reached immediately for an update Monday.
The fire forced 40 people out of their homes, including seven families, Red Cross spokeswoman Shelly Gesicki said. The Red Cross provided food and clothing to all of the families affected by the fire.
“We have ongoing assistance,” she said. “We will continue to assist with the basic essentials.”
Families also were placed in a local hotel and will receive help from the Red Cross in their searches for new homes.
“We walk them through the process and help them get back on their feet,” Gesicki said.
The fire burned through three units of the complex and a car that was in the parking lot. The damage caused the entire complex to be non-livable, forcing the families to find new homes, Finstad said.
Crews contained the blaze within 30 minutes. Firefighters found Mills’ body inside the first apartment, and Forrester was outside with third-degree burns over his face and hands.
Eight of the ten apartments were occupied at the time of the blaze.
