A fire ripped through a shelter on Saturday, causing $2 million worth of damage and leaving several people displaced. Gadi Schwartz reports from North Hollywood for the NBC4 News at 11 on Sunday, May 4, 2014.
Several homeless people lost the few items they owned in a fire that destroyed the shelter they were staying in early Saturday morning.
The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission at 13422 Saticoy Street in North Hollywood was declared a total loss after going up in flames, officials said. The fire was initially reported just before 1 a.m as flames from a large outdoor palette fire roared next door to the building that housed the shelter.
More than 20 people were sleeping inside when flames broke out. They were able to escape, but lost what little they had.
“This is all I had. This is my bed, this is my home, this is my children’s things,” said Nancy Arias as she walked through the rubble on Sunday.
Arias and her daughters, along with others at the mission, were forced to move to a Red Cross shelter.
No injuries were immediately reported.
The shelter's director, Wade Trimmer, said the fire caused about $2 million worth of damage. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in donated items were destroyed.
It took Los Angeles firefighters more than an hour to get the flames under control and it was knocked down just before 3 a.m., officials said.
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The shelter is asking for cash donations. It needs new clothing, include children's shoes and underwear for those in need.
Donations can be made on the mission's website at sfvrescuemission.org.
NBC4 has a long partnership with the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission as part of the I am a Volunteer campaign. The station committed $5,000 on Sunday to help start a rebuilding fund.
About $25,000 had been raised by Sunday night.
