Fundraiser Established For Victims of Saturday's Western Addition Fire

Fundraiser Established For Victims of Saturday's Western Addition Fire

Photo: Jason Muscat

Nuala Sawyer
Published on February 02, 2015

On Saturday afternoon, a 4-alarm fire broke out at McAllister and Scott streets, sending smoke high above the neighborhood and drawing a crowd of neighbors spectating outside the police lines. One firefighter was injured, but no residents were harmed during the fire, aside from a small dog that needed oxygen. 

According to the Red Cross, 15 units were affected (including two families with children), and 25 residents are displaced. [Note: originally published numbers were reversed]

Assistant Fire Chief Bob Postel stated that the fire began on the first floor of the building on the northwest corner of McAllister and Scott. By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, it had spread to three other buildings, as well as vertically upward to the attic. Postel predicted that the fire would have spread to the entire block if firefighters had not succeeded in quickly getting it under control. 

The Alamo Square Neighborhood Association (ASNA) has set up a fundraiser to support the victims of the fire, which took place only one block from the park. "The rebuilding process takes years and some of the families lost everything," it states.  

"We are setting a preliminary goal of $25,000 for our neighbors displaced by the fire, and hope to reach that by Valentine's Day," said ASNA President Gus Hernandez. "No amount is too small, so please give from the heart!" The neighborhood association is hoping to raise a total of $50,000 in support over the duration of the campaign. 

As of this morning, $1,370 has been donated by 17 separate donors. To donate to the fire fund via Paypal, go here. If you prefer GoFundMe, there's also been a page set up by ASNA there as wellAll donations gathered on either site will be distributed among the residents in need.