Some families displaced by 3-alarm apartment fire able to move back Monday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 learned families will not be able to move back into an east Charlotte apartment complex until Monday.

Buildings were heavily damaged from a massive fire at Woodscape Apartments on Farm Pond Lane nearly two weeks ago.

Officials need to make sure the electricity is secure and the buildings are structurally safe after 130 people lost their homes.

Many found temporary homes.

The shock has worn off for the dozens of families who woke up to a massive three-alarm fire that ripped through the apartment complex Monday morning, destroying homes and belongings.

Some took drastic measures to survive, including Amselmo Martinez and his family.

With the help of a translator, Martinez described throwing his four-year old daughter Chelsea from their third-story apartment window.

His wife, who jumped first and caught the little girl, is still in the hospital.

[Channel 9's coverage of the fire on Farm Pond Lane]

“He said, ‘I feel happy because I'm with my wife and my daughter,” Martinez said through the translator. “Thanks to God everything is OK."

Several families lost everything they owned, including Naum Balle, who also jumped after throwing his two kids to a neighbor below.

“Now he worries, where's he going to live now?'” a translator for Balle said.

The Red Cross and the Charlotte community have banded together to help those who lost everything in the fire.

A Red Cross shelter had been set up at Albemarle Road Middle School for families who have been displaced. The agency provided financial assistance for food, clothing, lodging and other essentials, along with comfort kits containing personal hygiene items.

Red Cross caseworkers met with families one-on-one to help them find a temporary home and other resources.

Mecklenburg County commissioner Pat Cotham has been working to expand housing options for families on a low or fixed income and said the fire amplifies the need.

 "We already have waiting lists, and now we have families in crisis," Cotham said.

Cotham is worried because many families affected only speak Spanish and some may be undocumented, and they may not accept help.

“They often don't trust government, so resources that might be available, even if they're with the faith community, they are going to likely resist that,” Cotham said.

The apartment complex owner said he is hopeful he can eventually re-open about 30 of the units that were not destroyed by the fire, while they rebuild the others.

The owner said he trying to find vacancies on other properties he owns to house some of the people while the Red Cross works with its community partners to find housing.

He's met with a contractor and a city representative to find out when he can re-open some of the units that were not damaged.

The temporary shelter will stay open until everyone has housing.The Red Cross and other local organizations are helping families navigate what resources are available and with finding a temporary home.

“My mom just went and she went to go buy food for them and said, 'let's go take it to the people there,” Elizabeth Munoz said.

"Everyone should bring something because that could be us,” Will Richardson said.

Charlotte council member Dimple Ajmera said she's talking to the Red Cross and other agencies about finding housing for those who lost everything.

Volunteers are asking people to not bring donations to the school, but instead donate the following ways.

How to help those affected by the fire: 

1) Red Cross Disaster Relief: People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

[READ MORE: Red Cross assisting families displaced by fire]

2) Central United Methodist Church: Central United Methodist Church located at 6030 Albemarle Road is taking clothing donations for fire victims. Items can be dropped off at the back door until 4 p.m. Thursday. New Hope Baptist Church is no longer accepting clothing donations. Volunteers there are currently sorting what they have received in order to distribute.

3) Crisis Assistance Ministry: Clothing can be dropped off Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Crisis Assistance Ministry on Spratt Street.

Volunteers say the items that are needed the most are clothing, shoes, baby and toddler supplies, personal care items, and food and water.

Cox Media Group