Apartment fire breaks out at Harvest House senior living in Spring Valley, American Red Cross opens emergency shelter

The cause of the fire is still unclear.

News 12 Staff

Feb 28, 2024, 10:20 PM

Updated 302 days ago

Share:

A fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at Harvest House senior living apartments at 14 Union Road in Spring Valley.
Officials believe the fire started in an apartment on the second floor.
The cause of the fire is still unclear.
Two residents and two police officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters were checked for injuries and cleared at the scene.
The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at the Louis Kurtz Civic Center on Wednesday for residents who were displaced by the fire.
According to a spokesperson from the organization, the center will be open overnight for people who need a place to stay or need something to eat.
So far, volunteers have registered around 34 tenants, many of whom are senior citizens.
News 12's Jade Nash spoke with Louis Perez at the shelter.
Perez lives at Harvest House and was debating staying the night at the civic center with his dog.
He recalled the moment he first realized there was a fire at his building.
"I was out all day today and [when] I got back, I'm seeing fire trucks. Nobody could go in the building. My dog was still in the building, [and] I couldn't get in," Perez said. "I had to ask the firefighter to go in and get the dog for me."
Representatives from the American Red Cross told News 12 that they will also welcome tenants back to the civic center on Thursday to help them figure out what their long-term needs are.
This was the third fire in a Spring Valley apartment this month.