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Dec 24, 2008 1:46 pm US/Central
$1M Distributed To Burnsville Fire Victims
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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More than 120 firefighters and emergency responders from six fire departments fought the blaze for more than six hours, braving demanding sub-zero weather conditions.
CBS
People who lost everything in an apartment building fire on Monday started receiving relief checks Wednesday, in large part because of anonymous donor who gave apartment tenants $1 million.
Nearly 200 people lost their homes when 64 units burned Monday night at the Burncliff Apartments in Burnsville, Minn.
The Goodman Group, the management company of the Burncliff Apartments announced Tuesday that an anonymous donor has come forward with the donation to help the displaced victims of the fire.
Rose Smith is now living in a Burnsville hotel with her twin girls. She just found out she will be one of 64 families getting a check on Wednesday for more than $17,500.
"I'm so excited. I'm just so excited that's all," Smith said.
Juan Rodriguez was working when the fire started; he lost everything.
"That's great, after all we've been through. It's tough, but that's really, really nice of the people that did that," Rodriguez said.
Ever since the Burncliff Apartments burned, people have been dropping off Christmas gifts, Christmas trees and all sorts of other stuff at the Burnsville High School. The $1 million donation caught everyone off guard.
"Our corporate office worked with that anonymous donor to make sure that those funds were available, they were and we worked hard to try and put that money to give to our residences starting tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock," said Frank French with the Goodman Group.
Acts of kindness that have helped brighten the season for so many after one very dark night.
"Thank you to the people who donated the money to help us. Thank goodness for them," Rodriguez said.
Besides that $17,500 check, tenants will also get their December rent back, their security deposit and $100,000 in additional donations will be split up among the fire victims.
Burncliff's manager wants residents to go to the apartment office Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to pick up those checks. Residents can also visit building "B" from 3 - 6 p.m. Wednesday for an apartment fair, where people can start to look for new apartments that will fit their needs.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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