The Tumwater community is rallying around those who lost their homes to a fire at the Suncrest Apartments on Thursday, Oct. 15.
The second-alarm fire was reported shortly before noon at an apartment complex in the 300 block of Israel Road Southwest.
The Tumwater Fire Department responded alongside the Olympia Fire Department, Lacey Fire District 3, East Olympia Fire Department, West Thurston Fire Department, McLane Black Lake Fire Department, Griffin Fire Department and South Bay Fire Department.
The fire impacted 30 residential units before it was extinguished.
A man and a child were rescued during the evacuation effort, but no serious injuries or fatalities had been reported as of Friday afternoon, according to the Tumwater Fire Department.
Nobody was transported to the hospital during the incident.
Among those successfully rescued from the apartment complex was a pet cat who was trapped inside one of the residential units.
“And while our crews had plenty on their plates, leaving a furry family member behind wasn’t part of the plan,” Lacey Fire District 3 said in a social media post on Friday.
Lacey firefighters successfully rescued the cat and reunited it with its family.
“We’re proud of the hard work, dedication, and compassion our crews bring to every call. Because protecting our community means looking out for every member of it, even the ones with whiskers,” Lacey Fire District 3 said in a social media post.
Many other pets who called Suncrest Apartments home were still unaccounted for as of Friday afternoon.
Several of their owners have put out calls to the Facebook group “Lost and Found Pets of Thurston County, WA and Surrounding Counties” to ask for the community’s help locating them.
The Tumwater Police Department closed a stretch of Israel Road Southwest while firefighters were working to subdue the fire Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Tumwater Fire Department and City of Tumwater worked with Tumwater School District's communications office to help inform parents, guardians and students from a nearby school to avoid the area.
Area nonprofits, including Family Education and Support Services, the Red Cross, FD CARES, and Salvation Army were quick to provide support, including diapers, clothes and shelter for the families affected.
The City of Tumwater has established a respite space in its Fire Training Room at the Tumwater Fire Department for displaced residents and pets.
“The City is incredibly grateful for the speed and thoroughness of response from area fire departments — and kind and responsive neighbors like FESS, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FD Cares and the Tumwater School District,” said Tumwater Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Crimmins.
The Tumwater School District is working with affected families and community organizations to coordinate emergency support, including clothing, food and extended hotel stays.
The district is currently accepting donations in the form of gift cards to give to affected families.
Visa gift cards or gift cards to stores like Walmart are especially helpful, the district said, as they allow families to purchase the essentials that work best for them.
Donations can be dropped off at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School or Tumwater High School. Donors are asked to tell staff that the donation is for Community Schools.
Several displaced residents and their loved ones have also started individual fundraisers.
A noncomprehensive list of the fundraisers active as of Friday afternoon is below.
To have a fundraiser for a displaced Suncrest Apartments resident added to this list, email news@thurstonchronicle.com.
• Help Cheyenne Rebuild After the Suncrest Apartment Fire: https://gofund.me/d8718d02e
• Help Gina Rebuild After Suncrest Fire: https://gofund.me/13c490614
• Help Bree's Family Rebuild After the Fire: https://gofund.me/3aedd3632
• Help Alyssa’s Sister Rebuild After Fire: https://gofund.me/c6b8c84bb
• Help my sister rebuild what she lost: https://www.supportnow.org/help-my-sister-rebuild-what-she-lost
