Some of you read or heard about our recent fire at an apartment complex on Welch Street. I just want you to know, we don’t just put out fires, but we go the extra mile to help people get through this crisis:

How we managed to get the displaced Residents of the Brookview Apartments provided with what they needed following the fire. The Poudre Fire Authority has for many years provided a service we refer to as the Customer Assistance Response Team or CART. This team is made up of members of the PFA who respond off-duty to assist in the recovery for the victims of fire and other emergencies. These firefighters receive additional training in what resources are available, how to work with insurance companies and restoration companies and have access to clothing, food vouchers, hotel vouchers and work very closely with the Red Cross and Salvation Army to assure the needs of the impacted citizens are met.

Several years ago, PVH Ambulance donated an old ambulance to the Fire Authority and the CART members worked to repurpose it as the CART response vehicle. This provides not only a way to carry and store items such as clothing (often a family may have nothing but their pajamas after a fire), vouchers, contact information for insurance and restoration companies, toiletries and other essential things for during and immediately after the incident. This vehicle also provides a place for the family to get out of the weather, or even just out of the public eye. The vehicle has DVD’s and a television to entertain and help calm the children and provides a quiet and private place to call family, insurance companies begin the recovery process.

We are able to provide this service for relatively little expense (between $5,000 – $7,000 per year). Several hotels have provided the vouchers and stores have donated clothing and other items to keep things going. The CART members can not only assist with immediate needs but assist in dealing with the insurance companies and assure that restoration and recovery are done by reputable contractors, hopefully avoiding some predatory practices that have been seen in other parts of the country.

Captain Ralph Kettle and Firefighter Mark Swihart were the CART members that responded Wednesday morning and worked with the Red Cross and others to find housing and services. Of the approximately 24 people that were displaced, I believe 11 needed assistance with housing and all were successfully placed for the night. Some of those will be able to find other accommodations and some may continue for a few days in provided housing, but we will continue to assist in any way we can.