How You Can Help Those Displaced By Rescue Mission Fire

INDIO- Nearly 100 homeless people were temporarily left without a place to sleep Wednesday when fire ripped through an Indio rescue mission, but no injuries were reported.

The fire broke out around 1:40 a.m. at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission at 47518 Van Buren St., said Cal Fire spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.

Responding units reported smoke and fire visible from the roof of the building, Hagemann said.

The fire was contained by 3:18 a.m.

The mission serves around 80,000 hot meals every year and provides shelter to men and women with children.

A total of 93 residents, including nine juveniles, were displaced because of the fire. The Riverside County Office of Emergency Services and the American Red Cross worked overnight to set up a shelter for the displaced residents at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio.

The building was deemed uninhabitable until the fire damaged area can be repaired, Hagemann said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

If you would like to help those displaced by the fire, visit www.servicenetwork.com/olg/cvr/donate.asp?frequency=monthly.

You can also donate blankets, pillows, undergarments, socks, clothing, anything you can spare by calling John Miller at 760-601-0708 or by dropping off donations at News Channel 3 Studios at 42650 Melanie Place, Palm Desert.

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission requests the following items for donation:

DIAPERSBABY FORMULABABY FOODADULT/CHILDREN UNDERGARMENTSREADY TO SERVE- FOOD ITEMSDRY GOODS

Donations to News Channel 3 will only be accepted MONDAY through FRIDAY 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.