Two House Fires in Two Hours Require Immediate Red Cross Assistance

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 12, 2010) — At this hour, volunteers from the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross are responding to a house fire at 2320 Avenue Z in Riviera Beach; their second house fire in two hours. Two Red Cross volunteers are at the scene coordinating emergency aid for four adults. The Red Cross is meeting the family’s immediate and emergent needs with critical assistance including food, clothing, smoke detergent, hygiene kits and lodging. The home is destroyed.

            A West Palm Beach house fire occurred two hours prior at 1853 North Congress Avenue. The Red Cross assisted a total of two adults and six children occupying two units in a four-unit building. There, the Red Cross provided a hotel and money for food and clothing to one adult and four children living in a unit that experienced major damage, and a hotel stay and money for food to one adult and two children living in a unit that experienced minor damage.

Red Cross volunteers on the scene are Arlene Aronofsky and Bernadine Bellegarde. The pair responded initially to the West Palm Beach fire, moving next to the Riviera Beach fire. They are members of the American Red Cross-Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter’s Disaster Action Team; a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.

Voluntary contributions of time or money may be made to the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist the non-profit organization in providing disaster relief and helping community members prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Please call (561) 833-7711 or visit www.redcross-pbc.org to learn how you can help.

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross-Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and their families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

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