Emergency shelter opens for Black Forest Fire victims

A temporary emergency shelter opened Tuesday (12/3/13) for people who lost their homes in the Black Forest Fire.

The shelter is located at First Baptist Church of Black Forest, 10915 Black Forest Road. It opened at 4 p.m. Tuesday and will close at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. The shelter is planning to be open each night through the morning of Saturday, December 7.

Many of the people who lost their homes in the fire are living on their property in tents and trailers, which likely won’t be enough to keep them warm in the coming nights.

“This is the first really cold spell expected for the region. A community-wide effort is needed to ensure there are solutions so all residents have a safe and warm place to stay when temperatures plummet,” said Sally Broomfield, Disaster Program Manager of the American Red Cross Pikes Peak Chapter.

El Paso County says pets will not be allowed in the shelter. However, in cooperation with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, arrangements have been made to shelter small animals off-site. Those residents needing to shelter pets must check in at the Red Cross shelter at the First Baptist Church in Black Forest by 8 p.m. to make arrangements for their pets.