Building a New Life From the Ashes : Aid: Several agencies are helping the victims of the suspected arson Downtown. But the displaced residents’ needs are many.

Mario Carillo still felt numb, almost a week after losing his mother and aunt in a Downtown tenement fire early last Monday.

“It hasn’t sunk in on me,” he said about the suspected arson blaze. “I’m still in shock. The whole family is like that.”

The fire killed Rebecca G. Salazar, 61; her sister Elsa Casillas, 40, and Jose Romero Ventura, 46. Nineteen others were injured.

Carillo, 35, and his brother, sister, niece, nephew and brother-in-law also lived in the building. All were treated for smoke inhalation and released. They are staying with another of Carillo’s brothers in Whittier.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has found unfurnished housing for 29 of the 39 families and individuals involved in the fire and has closed its temporary shelter at Belmont High.

The agency paid a month’s rent and security deposit for each residence and furnished basic necessities, such as sheets, pillow cases and a few dishes.

“They’ll need accessories, end tables and TVs, additional clothing--things we can’t provide,” said Pedro Ayala, the Red Cross’ area supervisor for emergency services.

“Keep in mind that they were living in one room. So all they had were clothing and a couple of dishes. Most did not own their beds or anything. They were provided by the management.”

The St. Francis Center, a Downtown service agency, is also aiding the victims. It has collected furniture, clothing and at least $4,000 in donations, including a $2,500 check from Transamerica Life Companies.

“If people want to help, we will have family-by-family lists of what each family needs so people aren’t sending 10 refrigerators and we only need three,” said Carol Adams, assistant director at St. Francis.

“We need to work on small appliances--toasters, blenders, space heaters and some furniture,” she said. “We need warm clothing, jackets and shoes.”

Carillo, a door-to-door kitchenware salesman who earned $300 last month, has received vouchers from the Red Cross for food and clothing.

But he must pay for the cremations of his mother and aunt, which were scheduled for Friday. Then he will worry about a place to live.

“We lost everything,” he said. “We’re just depending on my brother right now. The only things we have are what the nice people have been willing to give us. If anyone can offer me or my brother a job, it will be well, well appreciated.”

Donations for fire victims will be accepted at the following venues:

* St. Francis Center, 1203 S. Santee St., Los Angeles, 90015; (213) 7847-5374.

* American Red Cross, 2700 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, 90057; (213) 739-5200.

* Para Los Ninos, 613 Imperial St., Los Angeles, 90044; (213) 623-8446.

* Salvation Army, 900 W. 9th St., Los Angeles 90015; (213) 627-7546.