OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Victims of the recent fire at Centennial Place apartments originally thought to be able to be back in their homes this week will have to wait four more weeks.
Residents had to evacuate the building at 6 School St. in the early hours of Jan. 29, after the spread of a kitchen fire on a first floor apartment. The building provides income-based housing for seniors and disabled people.
Since then, the American Red Cross has put up the majority of the residents at the Hampton Inn in Saco.
One side of the Centennial Place building sustained more damage than the other, and it had been thought that those displaced from the less damaged side of the building would be able to move back into their apartments last week.
Town Manager Larry Mead said town staff met with Centennial Place management and representatives from the Red Cross and Salvation Army Thursday. Apartment management said it needs to repair a fire alarm system and also wants to repaint smoke damaged walls and replace carpeting. Tenants from that side of the building won’t be able to move back for at least four weeks, and the remainder of tenants will be displaced longer, said Mead.
“That was unwelcome news for the tenants and the town,” he said.
The Red Cross will continue to provide housing at the Hampton Inn through Sunday night, said spokesman John Lamb. The Red Cross has provided vouchers for food and clothing, helped secure medications, and provided emotional support, said Lamb.
Red Cross typically provides short-term housing assistance to help victims as they prepare for the next step, but the agency has extended temporary housing in this case, he said.
Mead said officials will meet again Monday to come up with a longer-term plan for displaced School Street residents and the town will take the lead.
“It’s tough to be in flux” said Mead. “We’ve got a lot of good people working on it. Nobody’s going to be homeless.”
Lamb said Red Cross will continue to help in the recovery process.
Donations can be sent to The American Red Cross, 2401 Congress St., Portland, Maine 04102 or The Salvation Army, 1 Church St., P.O. Box 375, Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064. Please note “School Street, OOB Fire” on checks sent to either organization.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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