San Diegans Reach Out to Help Victims of Fire : Samaritans: Dozens offer aid to those left homeless by Saturday’s downtown apartment fire.

The Red Cross in San Diego fielded dozens of calls Monday from businesses and residents offering aid to downtown apartment residents left homeless after a dramatic fire destroyed parts of their building last weekend.

Following news accounts of the harrowing escape of some residents, the emergency assistance agency received offers of help ranging from housing to donations of clothing, furniture and money, said Nancy Jordan, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

A few owners of low-rent apartments offered to waive the remaining December rent for fire victims.

A 15-month-old girl and 5-month-old boy escaped a smoke-choked apartment when they were dropped from a third-story window by their mother. Onlookers responding to the mother’s screams for help caught the babies in spread blankets.

Other residents jumped to the sidewalk from second- and third-story windows. There were 26 minor injuries during the blaze early Saturday, fire department officials reported.

The Casa Grande Apartment house, 1140 B St., was boarded up Monday as the Red Cross continued to house 18 families displaced by the fire. Forty-seven people have stayed at the Howard Johnson Harbor View Hotel downtown since Saturday and were expected to remain for about a week or until they find permanent housing, said Cathy West, an office manager at the hotel.

The Red Cross has paid for about $10,000 worth of lodging, meals and emergency needs. On Monday, the agency’s national office approved another $10,000 worth of aid, Jordan said. The additional funds will help cover transportation costs during apartment hunting, move-in fees and essential furnishings.

The Red Cross, a private, nonprofit group, normally provides vouchers for room and board and for purchasing clothing and essentials, Jordan said. The group normally does not accept donated goods or services.

But calls in response to the fire were so numerous, Jordan said, the agency culled lists of donations and contacts, and made them available to the victims.

“People have been so moved by this story . . . it’s sounds like they are frustrated if they can’t help,” Jordan said.

The Red Cross in San Diego assisted victims of 17 fires last year during the Christmas holiday season, officials said. Several of the fires were holiday related: Christmas light malfunctions; candles left unattended.

Others were started by common mistakes, smoking in bed, cooking left unattended, space heaters used carelessly. Saturday’s fire began when a hot iron ignited a wooden cabinet.

Falling prey to mishap can be more devastating during the holidays, Jordan said.

“For the victims, it’s like a double whammy,” Jordan said. “Not only do they lose everything they own, sometimes they lose Christmas presents they saved all year to buy. . . . It seems like the (holiday fire) season’s really starting now. We’re trying to get out word to be careful.”