Koreatown Blaze Leaves 37 Homeless
Fire roared through a two-story home converted into four apartments in Koreatown early Saturday, causing $443,000 in damage and leaving 37 people homeless, fire officials said.
None of the 37 residents were injured. They were taken by Rapid Transit District bus to an emergency shelter at Berendo Junior High School, Red Cross spokesman Anthony Greno said. He said the shelter would remain open through the weekend.
Many of those displaced by the blaze were women and children, Greno said. Red Cross workers immediately ordered hamburgers from a fast-food restaurant to feed the hungry group.
The fire was reported at 2:10 a.m. at 1420 S. New Hampshire Ave. by two RTD police officers who were on their way to another call when they saw smoke, firefighters said.
About 45 firefighters assigned to nine companies extinguished the blaze in 39 minutes, Fire Department spokesman Jim Williamson said.
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