Agenda Date: 05/21/2019
Subject:
Title
Recognition of employees, citizens, and volunteers who assisted the victims of The Windermere apartment fire
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Prepared by: |
Kelli Narde, Director of Communications |
PURPOSE:
The Littleton City Council wishes to recognize the employees, citizens, and volunteers who assisted the victims of The Windermere apartment fire.
PRESENTATION:
Presenter: Debbie Brinkman, Littleton Mayor
SUMMARY:
On November 17, 2018, a fire swept through The Windermere senior apartment building claiming the life of resident Michael Mitchell, injuring 13 people, and displacing all 160 residents. If not for the heroic efforts of the officers and dispatchers of the Littleton Police Department and Littleton Fire Rescue, the toll could have been much worse.
Because they could not immediately return to their homes due to asbestos contamination and building safety issues, these residents’ lives were turned upside down. Thanks to an army of volunteers and service organizations who jumped at the chance to help, the residents received assistance ranging from temporary housing vouchers, finding new permanent housing, working with adjusters on insurance claims, obtaining food, medicine, and clothing; and emotional care and support.
The Littleton City Council wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to the following people for their immediate response to the fire, and their caring concern for the residents in its aftermath. Please come forward when your name is called.
Arapahoe County
The county staff coordinated with other organizations to ensure all residents were connected with appropriate resources, secured case management services, and identified secure and affordable housing sites that were appropriate and affordable for seniors.
• Housing, Community Development and Senior Resources Division Manager Linda Haley
• Community Development Administrator Liana Escott
• Housing Specialist Ben Nichols
Littleton Police Department
These officers were first on the scene and started the evacuation and rescue of many people. The dispatchers managed the flood of calls to 911.
• Sergeant Shawn Carlson
• Corporal Paul Martens
• Officer Horatio Borrego
• Officer Steven Pike
• Officer Andrew Barnard
• Officer Cesar Correa
• Detective Christina Goodman
• Dispatcher Sandra Vale
• Dispatcher Lindsey Hedenskog
• Dispatcher Lisa Morgan
• Dispatcher Travis Davis
City of Littleton Staff
• Lois McCloskey, Shopping Cart driver
• Judy Hamrock, Omnibus driver
• Evvie Mason, Omnibus driver
Love Inc.
Within hours of the fire, Love Inc. provided clothing for the residents, many of whom arrived at the shelter in their pajamas. Its 34 partner churches recruited 40 individuals who spent dozens of hours with residents providing friendship and stability throughout the difficult weeks and months after the fire.
• Linda Birch
• Becky Feuerstein
• Richard Fritsche
• Susan Ganz
• Anne Heathman
• Duane Keesen
• Bill O’Byrne
• Barb Rudolf
• John Scherling
• Carolyn Smith
• Kathryn Roy
Littleton United Methodist Church
The church was a safe haven for the evacuees immediately after the fire. The volunteers prepared and served many meals to the evacuees and worked with the Red Cross to obtain medical and emotional support for those who needed it.
• David Kates
• Dave Wynkoop
• Lori Wynkoop
• Cheryl Grace
• John Grace
• Dr. Glenn Gravelle
• LaDonna Gravelle
• Jen Engquist
• Pat Estes
• Lue Hansen
• Bob Youngblood
• Harriett McKee
• Frank Lynn
• Shawn Garvin
• Susan Medley
• Helen Gillikin
• Kim Taussig
• John Ostermiller
Littleton Fire Rescue/South Metro Fire Rescue
These firefighters were the first on the scene from Stations 11 and 12 and began the initial suppression of the fire, and medical assessment and treatment of the injured.
• Captain Steve Alley
• Engineer Michael Velasquez
• Firefighter Jason Teribery
• Lieutenant Reggie Hyatt
• Paramedic Jeffrey Zelazak
• Captain Robert Lovelace
• Engineer Dominic Penaflor
• Firefighter Cory Lambert
• Paramedic Jared Whitely
• Paramedic Zach Corley
• Incident Commander and Battalion Chief Mark Stokes
American Red Cross
The Red Cross assisted in many ways including providing hotel vouchers and help with temporary housing.
• Disaster Program Manager Dennis Hughes
Humane Society of the South Platte Valley
Staff and volunteers helped locate and rescue many pets in the building and provided food and shelter for them at no cost until their owners could claim them.
• Executive Director Leslie Maissonneuve
The Littleton City Council is forever grateful to these wonderful men and women before us tonight. This is yet another shining example of the dedicated and professional employees who work for the City of Littleton, and the caring and compassionate volunteers who spent countless hours helping the residents. Littleton is a better place because of each of you. On behalf of the citizens of Littleton, thank you.
Proposed Motion