Squire Mobile Home Park Fire evacuees in need of donations; how you can help
Our crews visited Desert Hot Springs High School earlier today after a fire impacted 14 mobile homes and 12 vehicles at the County Squire RV and Mobile Home Park in Desert Hot Springs on Tuesday.
Evacuees are now getting resources from the county and other organizations, like the American Red Cross and Palm Springs Unified School District.
Omar Tinoco, Principal at Desert Hot Springs High School had the chance to speak to evacuees who are receiving shelter in his school's gymnasium.
"To see not only our community come together, but that specific park community come together and try to salvage as many things that they could on their own, is impressive to hear," says Tinoco.
Because those evacuees left their homes in such short notice, some belongings were left behind.
Now volunteers are find ways to help those displaced by the Squire Mobile Home Park fire.
Emma Sanchez, an evacuee shares her firsthand experience, "They asked all of us to leave the trailer park. We can’t be there because the homes smell like gas, there’s no light, no water, they closed everything because of the fire."
In an effort to provide donations, Palm Springs Unified School District is asking people to donate to their District Foundation online.
That organization right there will provide gift cards or monetary needs that the families may have, because right now, we don't know what people have lost. So it's difficult," says Tinoco.
Shane Reichert, with Riverside County's Emergency Management Department says they're in the early stages of working with the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.
"We have everything from children to elderly, they have very specific needs. And monetary donations, allow our volunteer groups to purchase exactly what's needed," says Reichert.
He adds sometimes it's best to wait to identify what fire victims need before asking for clothing or other supplies.
"It also helps that we don't have to dedicate staff, who's already in short supply, that staff would have to be receiving all the donations, cleaning the donations, sorting, warehousing, all the other things that go along with stuff that people donate," says Reichert.
The county's focus at this time is getting people back in their homes if they are still habitable.
"When you have a fire, you have potential for hazardous materials and cleanup and other things that need to happen. We've got to restore the utilities. So gas, all of the things that people require to be able to be in their homes," says Reichert.
To assist families who lost their homes in yesterday’s mobile home park fire in DHS, PSUSD's Foundation has set up a fund with proceeds being used to purchase gift cards to assist our families. You can contribute here
