craigdailypress.com

Former Alpine Apartments residents who were displaced when a fire struck their building and killed one tenant will meet with the American Red Cross today to discuss relief options.

The Sept. 17 fire gutted several units, heavily damaged several others, and resulted in the death of one Craig resident. According to the coroner, Michelle Bell, 20, died Thursday from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning after spending a day in intensive care at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.

Residents of 26 units in the apartment building will not be able to return to their homes, according to American Red Cross Disaster Specialist Jason Godinez.

The Red Cross will review each case and decide how much relief to dole out. Depending on the case, Godinez said, some victims may be eligible for help with their first month's rent when they find a new place.

The owner of Alpine Apartments, John La, is refunding security deposits and half of September's rent to his former tenants.

The Red Cross has a list of available apartments. Relief clients will fill out paperwork detailing their housing situations both before and after the fire. This form will assist the Red Cross in evaluating the needs of individual families. Based on the damage they sustained and their housing situations, the Red Cross will determine how best to help them.

According to Godinez, some families lost everything in the fire, while some were displaced not because their unit was damaged, but because Alpine Apartments requires substantial renovation to the electrical as well as the roofing system.

These renovations may take six to eight months, Godinez said.

Alice Zimnisky, the only remaining tenant, was away on business with her husband when the fire burned several of the building's units.

"We came home thinking the building was okay," Zimnisky said. She and her husband found out Friday that the building was being condemned, pending restoration. For Zimnisky, a 3-year resident awaiting cancer surgery, it was very bad timing. La recognized her unique situation, and worked to get the power turned back on to her apartment.

La said he thought it might be too stressful for Zimnisky, who underwent facial surgery this morning, so he arranged for electricity to be restored to her apartment. La said that the situation is difficult enough for those in good health, and he was afraid to cause Zimnisky "more problems." Zimnisky's apartment is far removed from the fire zone.

For the rest of the residents struggling to find housing in the wake of the tragedy, it may be a difficult time, considering the limited housing currently available in Craig.

But Red Cross representative Godinez said several vacancies have emerged. Toni Herod, of J & J Properties, contacted the Red Cross, offering four vacant apartments and the promise to "work with the victims" to arrange housing. Columbine Apartments also has several vacancies, Godinez said.

Godinez said the Craig community "poured out" support for those displaced after the fire.

"Smaller communities are sometimes the best communities in times like these," Godinez said.

The temporary shelter set up by the Red Cross was closed two days after the fire because the former tenants had already made arrangements to stay with family or friends elsewhere in the community. The Red Cross had made plans to use the vacant Shiloh House as a more permanent shelter, and it even had relief workers on standby to assist in that process. But Thursday the temporary shelter at the Center of Craig had a zero population, indicating residents had made other arrangements.

Moffat County's Emergency Manager, Clyde Anderson, said he has received calls from Craig residents wanting to know how they can help. Anderson said he is referring all donations to the Red Cross.

Those interested can send contributions to the Red Cross at 804 23rd Avenue, Greely, CO 80634. To specifically designate your donation for Alpine Apartments residents, Godinez said to mark it, "Attention: Apartment Fire in Craig." For additional questions, call the Red Cross at 824-2661.

Jeremy Browning can be reached at 824-7031 or jbrowning@craigdailypress.com.