Six families are homeless after the Newporter Apartment Fire on Tuesday, and the Newport Hills Community Church is holding a pancake fundraiser to raise funds to help find housing for them.
The Newport Hills Community Church's pancake breakfast fundraiser will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8., at the Newport Hills Community Church, 5833 119th Ave SE.
"This is just the first step," said Paul Burnham, Sr., pastor of Newport Hills Community Church. After the families find housing, the church plans to coordinate donations of clothing, houseware and furniture that the families will need, he said.
"I've had lots of people who want to help," Burnham said. However, the families need to have housing first, before they can use other types of donations.
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A fire that broke out on the roof of one of the building in the Newporter Apartment complex, 5900 119th Ave. SE, Bellevue.
Ten apartments had water or fire damage, and four of the families can return after their apartments are repaired, said Bellevue Fire Department spokesman Lt. Troy Donlin. The other six families are permanently displaced, he said.
Bellevue Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental, originating in a utility chase onthe top floor, according to the Bellevue Fire Department. Workers covered the utility chase, including a fireplace flue, when they replaced the roof. Damage is estimated at $300,000.
No injuries were reported. The building had a working fire alarm system but no sprinklers, according to the Bellevue Fire Department.
Newport Hills Community Church has held fundraising breakfasts in the past, including a benefit for the Japanese tsunami of 2011 that raised nearly $4,000 in relief, Burnham said.
Burnham said that he expects that the church has a goal to raise $6,000 in relocation costs for six families who are permanently displaced from their homes. There are no available apartments in the Newporter apartment complex for the families to move, so they are currently being housed in hotel rooms and being assisted by the American Red Cross, he said.
People who want to help with the pancake breakfast can donate food items such as pancake mix or bacon, which would help make sure that the proceeds will go toward the families, Burnham said.
For additional info and details, please contact Pastor Paul Burnham, Sr. or Leona Burnham at 425-746-8034.
Earlier coverage:
Newporter Apartment Fire Displaces Ten Families Overnight
Bellevue Firefighters Respond to Two-Alarm Fire in Newport Hills
