MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – One of the people displaced by last Wednesday’s fire at Manitowoc’s Parkview Haven Apartment Complex is speaking out.
Rose Fichtner has lived in her third-floor apartment unit for nine years.
“It’s very hard to sleep at night. I have no clue what I’m going to do yet. I haven’t thought of it. It’s just nightmares after nightmares. And I can hear her voice yet. I was the last one to hear her talk.”
Fichtner is referring to her next-door neighbor and the lone person killed in the blaze, 57-year-old Dana Bushman.
A total of 88 people were put out on the street by the fire.
While many have found other accommodations, 15 of those people, including Fichtner, are still staying at the temporary shelter that has been set up in the Wilson Junior High School gymnasium.
“We’re together. We talk to each other, how they feel, and they know how I feel. We just kind of talk it so that we can get over it and go on. It’s really, really hard.”
While it is a very difficult time for all those displaced, Fichtner says things are getting a bit better with each passing day.
“The more I talk about it, the easier it’s getting. I don’t cry as much anymore, but I’m still scared to go on the third floor.”
The Red Cross has been coordinating various services for the survivors.
In addiiton to the shelter, the organization has ensured the people receive three meals per day, medication, access to laundry facilities, and money to purchase new clothing and necessities.
Steve Hansen is the Chapter Executive for the Red Cross’s Northeast Wisconsin branch.
While his chapter responds to an average of 180 disasters per year, Hansen notes this one is a bit more challenging.
“This is much larger than what we’re used to experiencing. Typically, it’s a single-family home. The last time I can remember one this large was last August. We helped about 50 individuals from a fire that took place in Sheboygan.”
Hansen says the Red Cross plans ahead for disasters and has partner organizations, such as Wilson Junior High School, across the nation that are willing to temporarily house survivors.
“We chose (Wilson Junior High School) because it was a large enough facility and close enough to where the fire took place where the residents wouldn’t have a long distance to travel back and forth.”
Hansen notes the temporary shelter will likely move to a different, undisclosed location this weekend.
“It’s going to be at least three weeks before they can get in (to their apartment units). That was very discouraging news for them to hear, but that’s the reality sometimes of what folks have to deal with after a fire.”
Wilson Junior High’s Associate Principal Cory Erlandson says the school has been able to make due without its gymnasium, which has been divided into a sleeping area and a meeting area.
“We’ve had to reroute some phy-ed classes, and they’ve been able to go outside for the most part.”
Erlandson says this is the first time he can recall the school being used as a temporary shelter.
“I think it’s been a pretty great opportunity for our students to see our value of community in action. That’s one of our core values here.”
On Monday, Erlandson says the students and staff organized a ‘Wear Red for the Red Cross’ day.
“Students wore red clothing. If they wanted to wear a hat, they could donate a dollar and then wear a hat during the school day, which they normally don’t get to do.”
Erlandson says the effort raised roughly $450, which has been donated to the Red Cross.
