EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – The David Drummond House was one of the few state street homes from the 1800’s still standing. Now, the fire damage to the nine-unit apartment building leaving about 15 people without a home or their belongings, and thanks to their neighbors, help is on the way.
Valley Girls Cycling Club used their third annual block party to help those in need. Their co-director Nicole Billings said “I think, we’re all in a little bit of feeling a shock.”
The shock came from a fire Friday evening, injuring three firefighters as a result.
” I think this was traumatic for people who live right across the street from us, lose everything that they own. Or at least everything that they had in their living space.”
The roof caved in as fire crews worked to put out the flames. Billings said she wanted to help when she heard about how much was destroyed.
“We’re hoping to fill the gap. Because even as of last night, people didn’t know where to go. I heard some people say ‘well I guess I’ll just rent a hotel room.’ One girl she was just sitting there, she didn’t even have a coat she was just wrapped in a tin foil wrap waiting for her mom to come pick her up from wherever her mom lived, so you know there’s these short-term needs that’s not always covered by traditional organizations so hopefully this will give them a little cash in their pockets,” she said.
Billings making sure those impacted know the community has their back.
“Just an opportunity for the community to come together, I’ve had multiple people come up to me and say, with a look of devastation in their eyes that I knew somebody who lived there,” she said.
Billings said she hopes the club’s involvement inspires others in the community to act in times of need like this devastating fire. Some UW-Eau Claire students who lived in the building said they don’t know if they’ll be able to retrieve any of their belongings inside.
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