NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Police Gather Donations for Victims of Fire

As yet another brush fire ravaged Southland hillsides Tuesday, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s North Hollywood Division pitched in to help victims of last week’s fire in Altadena.

Responding to the Salvation Army’s “Operation We Care” campaign to assist Southland fire victims, officers solicited more than $4,000 in donations.

The donations, which include soap, shampoo, toilet paper, clothes and other essentials, will be distributed to those displaced or affected by the fire.

Salvation Army officials said coffers are already running low after helping the victims of various Southland blazes last week.

“We’ve already got a shortfall and we’re not even into the recovery phase yet,” said spokeswoman Beverly Ventriss, “so things of this nature really help. It all adds up.”

Sgt. Bill Martin of the North Hollywood Division said officers just stepped in where they saw a need.

“We went out to local businesses and some private individuals, who in turn canvassed their areas and came up with the merchandise,” Martin said. “I think it all worked out pretty well in the end.”