GILROY
– The American Red Cross has come to the aid of more than 30
people who were forced out of their temporary migrant housing and
lost their possessions after a fire broke out Tuesday, damaging
eight units at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Farmworker Camp in
Gilroy.
GILROY – The American Red Cross has come to the aid of more than 30 people who were forced out of their temporary migrant housing and lost their possessions after a fire broke out Tuesday, damaging eight units at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Farmworker Camp in Gilroy.
The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of Red Cross opened up a shelter at South Valley Middle School for the victims. Red Cross teamed up with the Emergency Housing Consortium to provide food, and with St. Joseph’s Family Services to provide translators for the primarily Spanish-speaking community. Other services include assisting victims to find long-term housing.
Home to as many as 100 migrant families during the May to November growing season, the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy, nicknamed the “Concrete Camp,” is a mile from the nearest bus stop, surrounded by fields and a few light industrial businesses. The Center provides a housing community for migrant farmworker families who have on-site access to medical services and an infant care center.
Tuesday’s fire was caused by an overloaded extension cord in the bedroom of one unit in the center of the camp, and spread to five surrounding units, according to California Department of Forestry fire Capt. Derek Witmer. Four units sustained fire damage, two sustained smoke and water damage. Most of the residents were at work, and there were no injuries. Damage to the structures was estimated at $70,000.
The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross immediately deployed its Emergency Response Vehicle and a team of more than 12 local volunteers trained as Red Cross disaster relief workers to the scene, where they helped the victims meet their immediate needs.
Red Cross is free to disaster victims and is made possible by volunteers and donations from the community.
To donate to the local Disaster Relief Fund, call (408) 577-2114, or visit the Web site at www.santaclaravalley.redcross.org., or send a check to the American Red Cross, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, 2731 North First St., San Jose, CA 95134-2029.
The American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contribution of time and money of Santa Clara Valley residents and companies to provide emergency relief services to disaster victims and to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
