Red Cross helps hundreds of evacuees from Sugar House fire
Oct 26, 2022, 6:36 PM | Updated: 6:57 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — As firefighters push back the flames next door, the smoke looms over the homes of Sugar House residents who were forced to leave Wednesday morning.
Residents like Emily Woods grabbed what they needed for the day.
“I stopped at home and grabbed the essentials. Hopefully, I get to go home tonight,” Woods said. “I was supposed to have a shift today and did not get to go to work because I was in my pajamas, evacuated.”
Staff and volunteers with the Red Cross say they’re ready to help where needed.
#RedCross shelter for fire in #sugarhouse moves to a overnight shelter as an estimated 100 people will not be able to return home tonight. I'm talking with the Red Cross and evacuees for @KSL5TV at 5&6pm tonight pic.twitter.com/CkWRcWS4jg
— Mike Anderson (@mikeandersonKSL) October 26, 2022
“This is what we do, right? We drop everything to be able to support people that are affected,” said Mackenzie Jones, a Red Cross Disaster Program Manager.
Jones said people who do not get to go back to the Sugarmont and other neighboring apartments would have space, along with snacks and meals.
“When we’re not in an operation like this, we’re definitely striving toward being as prepared as possible for events like this so that we can act as quickly as possible,” Jones said.
Being prepared is what helped them respond so quickly after this all broke out last night. And donations, in large part, are making that possible.
“(It) was a long night, but it’s okay now,” said Ana Wujkowska, an evacuated resident.
She and her daughter are among the many trying to be ready to do what they have to.
Ana Wujkowska, one of the evacuated Sugar House residents. (KSL-TV Mike Anderson)
“We might come back if we’re not facing the burning building, but it really just depends on how well it goes, but it’s not been good since morning,” said another evacuated resident, CJ.
Thankfully many say they have friends and family ready to help.
The Red Cross Cross says donations are a significant part of what helps them do all this—along with several other organizations also helping, like the Salvation Army providing food and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with their buildings.
