An residence hearth on Emma Avenue the night of Jan. 23 killed two dad and mom and one little one, 7, and injured three different youngsters, who’re being handled for accidents in mainland hospitals. At the least one of many injured youngsters was in very essential situation as of the morning of Friday, Jan. 24.
The state hearth marshal is investigating the reason for the tragic blaze that engulfed Unit 6C in Fort Village Residences, a public housing complicated owned and operated by the Key West Housing Authority at Truman Avenue and Emma Avenue.
The deceased are Jean Decimy, 41; Evelyne Pierre, 38; and Dave Decimy, 7. The injured youngsters are Jean Decimy, 14; Sanaika Decimy, 5; and Sadrac Decimy, 5.
“That is an unimaginable tragedy, and persons are nonetheless wrapping their heads round it,” Randy Sterling, govt director of the Key West Housing Authority, informed the Keys Weekly on Friday, Jan. 24 after working all night time to make sure that all different residents from the buildig’s 5 different models had been safely housed. “However this neighborhood has and can proceed to do what it all the time does, by coming collectively to assist in occasions of disaster, be it a hearth, a hurricane or the rest.
“My upkeep director, who isn’t from Key West, informed me he’s lived in different communities, and has by no means seen or skilled this sort of neighborhood response,” Sterling added. “The mayor and metropolis officers had been with me final night time with the Purple Cross, as we arrange a type of response heart on the neighborhood heart throughout the road to determine what wanted to be executed and what folks wanted. However clearly, this tragedy has devastated a household and the wants can be ongoing.”
Sterling additionally credited Key West Hearth Division for its fast and expert response, which saved the hearth contained to Unit 6C within the concrete block construction that was inbuilt 1942. Fort Village features a complete of 84 models in a number of buildings, based on the housing authority web site. There are six flats in constructing No. 6, the place the hearth occurred.
“We had been capable of finding housing for everybody final night time, as a result of clearly all six models in that constructing needed to be evacuated, however due to the hearth division’s efforts to include the blaze, we must always be capable to get not less than 4 of the opposite households again of their properties in the present day,” Sterling stated, including that the unit immediately subsequent door to 6C will take longer for the residents to return. The housing authority and Purple Cross are making certain they’ve a spot to remain and no matter they want.
The Key West neighborhood is searching for methods to assist, and a listing of wants is being compiled. Keep tuned to keysweekly.com and to Keys Weekly’s Fb web page for the most recent details about help efforts.