No cause yet for Thursday fire in Clio: American Red Cross, local hardware store accepting donations

By Anastasia Harbuck

Published: August 25, 2008

The fire at Clio’s Pinewood Apartments Thursday afternoon destroyed seven residences and damaged an eighth residence.

But it could have been worse.

Though four firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion, said volunteer firefighter Mike Stell, he reported no other injuries. Stell served as incident command coordinator Thursday during the fire.
He said the Clio Fire Department got the 911 dispatch for help at 1:30 p.m. and that the fire was “under control” by 5 p.m.

Eleven local fire departments and 70 firefighters helped fight the blaze. Stell commends the departments’ excellent cooperation, saying local departments have a mutual aid agreement to help any other department in need.

Departments participating included: Clio, Louisville, Clayton, Baker Hill, Green’s Crossroads, Elamville, Blue Springs, Texasville, White Oak Shores, Ariton (Dale County) and Brundidge (Pike County).
At approximately 6:45 p.m., the local departments turned the burned apartment building over to State Fire Marshal Deputy Todd Register. State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said Register is “still in the midst of the investigation.”

Stell added that some furniture and personal items were salvaged from the fire.

Meanwhile, Jane Thrash, a community development specialist with the South Central Alabama area branch of the Red Cross in Troy, is conducting one-on-one interviews with the eight families victimized by the fire.

She said the Troy branch will provide “immediate basic needs” like food and clothing for the families through “client assistant cards” which the families can use to purchase basic needs. Thrash said Thursday night the victims stayed with family members.

The Troy branch serves Pike, Crenshaw and Bullock counties, but said the Russell County branch in Phenix City requested Troy’s help because of the branch’s close proximity to Clio.
Thrash urges others to make donations to fire victims by sending cash donations to 108 Market St., Troy, AL 36081, attention disaster fund.

Carol Caldwell, manager at Pinewood Apartments, adds that donations of towels, dishes, furniture and other dry goods may be made be dropped off at Grice Hardware in downtown Clio. She says the families have young children ages infant to 11 years old and that donations of baby or children’s clothing would especially be appreciated.