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Blawnox Church Opens Doors To Fire Victims

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Oct 29, 2009 3:16 pm US/Eastern

Blawnox Church Opens Doors To Fire Victims

A hotline has been set up for the fire victims and their families: 412-828-0139

BLAWNOX (KDKA) ― Many of the people forced from their apartments at a Blawnox high-rise early Thursday morning because of a fire were taken to a nearby church.

The fire broke out around 1 a.m. at the Blawnox Manor Senior Citizen High Rise on Centre Avenue.

But the Hoboken Presbyterian Church became a place of refuge for some of the displaced senior citizens this afternoon.

"We're here for community service and helping any way we can," said church member Kay Neiswonger. "That's what the church is all about."

Neiswonger said as soon as she heard about the fire at the senior citizen high rise she wanted to take action.

"Emergency services called my home about 3:30 this morning and asked if we could open the church," she said.

The church, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross came to the aid of the shaken up fire victims. The workers and volunteers gave the victims blankets and food and place to stay.

The gesture meant a lot to the fire victims.

One resident, Mary Kurtz, said the fire caused a lot of water damage in her apartment, but she was able to make it out safely with her medicine.

"Very sad because I don't know what I'm going to have to replace," said Kurtz. "It helps to know someone was going to take us in, we weren't going to have to stand outside."

Another fire victim, Joanne Chodak, said this is not the first time she has dealt with a fire in the apartment, but she is thankful to the church.

"This is the second time this has happened," said Chodak. "I have been here two years and the fire happened two years on October 7. I didn't think I would ever have to go through it again."

Meanwhile, some of the fire victims went home with family members.

But church officials say the will leave their doors open as long as remaining fire victims need to stay.

A hotline has been set up for the fire victims and their families who are seeking more information and have questions: 412-828-0139.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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