Seventeen people were displaced by a raging fire that tore through an apartment building in the 100 block of Wes Catawissa Street in Nesquehoning on Monday afternoon. In all, six housing units were damaged.

“Some of them are very young babies,” Red Cross volunteer John Klitsch said.

Tanya Erdman, the church’s music director, was traveling to Nesquehoning to meet with church treasurer and borough Councilwoman Mary Fox when she saw thick black smoke.

Alarmed, Erdman parked her vehicle and ran to the scene.

“I heard people screaming, ‘There are babies up there!’?” she said.

As victims were leaving their homes with only the clothes on their backs, Erdman was unlocking the doors of Meed’s Memorial UMC.

Erdman and Fox immediately began distributing clothing to keep the families warm as emergency personnel tackled the fire.

As word of the fire spread, more church volunteers began to gather. They hoped to prepare meals for the victims, but couldn’t when a fire-related power outage struck.

The community came to the rescue, Erdman said. True Value Hardware donated lights, and McDonald’s, Rosetta’s Pizza and Confessions Tavern delivered food. Family Promise and Care Net came through with donations for the infants, Erdman said.

The help didn’t stop with area businesses.

“People were just coming in with all kinds of donations. The community was really coming together,” Erdman said.

A seemingly nonstop line of people visited the church with baby clothes, gift cards, toddler beds and food, Erdman said.

“I’ve been on my phone all day with people who want to help,” she said.

As of Monday evening, Erdman wasn’t sure what else was needed.

“The dust is still settling,” she said. She expected to know more Tuesday and said anyone wishing to lend a hand can contact the 126 W. Catawissa St. church at 570-669-9212.

Because it’s unlikely that the victims will return to their residences, Klitsch said the Red Cross arranged financial assistance so they can find shelter at hotels or other facilities.

“And then they’ll be followed up with caseworkers within 48 to 72 hours. Somebody will call them and assess their future needs and helps them guide through the recovery process,” explained Klitsch, whose Red Cross chapter is based in Stroudsburg and is part of the Red Cross’s Greater PA region.

Needs

Clothing and supplies are being collected at Meed’s church. There are various ages, from infant to adults.

Needs include X-large pants and shirts for women, X-large pants and shirts for men, Jeans size 36/32, medium shirts and leggings for women, 3T-4T clothes for toddler girl, size 9 toddler girl shoes, large size shirt and leggings for women, size 10 sneakers for two women, size 9 sneaker for women, size 7 sneaker for women, size 10 men’s sneakers. A dog and cat were also displaced and people were rushing Monday night to supply food and other needs.

The Sokol Club is collecting money and GoFundMe accounts are being set up.

One of the displaced residents, Cindy Goren, posted, “Thank you all for the love and support offered to us and our family and neighbors today. We all made it out safely.”

“We lost everything material but no loss of human life so we have that to be thankful for. I’m still processing everything in my head and just want to wake up and this have been the most awful nightmare.”

She said she doesn’t know where they will move to. “I have no idea where we are going to live, if the boys are going to be able to go back to school at Panther Valley, I just don’t know what we are going to do yet.”

On the scene

Nesquehoning Fire Chief John McArdle said four units were damaged in the duplex with apartments at 137-139 W. Catawissa Street.

The blaze also damaged neighboring properties at 127 and 145 West Catawissa St.

In all nine adults and eight children were displaced.

The apartment building has structural damage but the neighboring home will possibly be able to be repaired, McArdle said.

Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak was first on the scene when the fire was called in at 1:25 p.m.

McArdle said when the call came, he had to drive past the property to get to the station. As soon as he saw the fire, he pulled the second alarm.

The fire companies remained on scene for the next five hours.

When they returned to the station, they spent several more hours preparing the equipment for the next emergency.

In addition to Nesquehoning departments, companies that responded included Lansford, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Weatherly, Summit Hill, Lehigh and Lausanne, Tamaqua Rescue, Lehighton Ambulance, Hometown Fire Police, and Carbon Emergency Management Agency.

The department posted, “Thanks to all of the mutual aid departments that responded and assisted as well as the crew from Lehighton Fire Department that helped return the truck back to service.”

The state police fire marshal was called to the scene and is investigating along with McArdle.

“No one was injured. Everybody worked together at the scene. There was adequate water supply,” McArdle said.

Businesses sent water and food to the scene. “We are thankful,” he said.

Unfortunately, volunteers are always lacking, especially when there is a daytime emergency.

“We need to make people aware of the importance of volunteering.”

Multiple fire departments were called for manpower. “It’s not just Nesquehoning. It’s throughout the county. We have the equipment, but not the manpower to fight effectively.”