Updated: Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.
OXFORD, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — About 90 people were displaced in Oxford, Chester County, after a fire tore through an apartment building and spread to neighboring businesses, borough leaders said Thursday. All schools in the Oxford Area School District are closed.
Union Fire Company and the Oxford Police Department were called to the area of South Third and East Locust streets around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Huge flames devastated the small town’s historic downtown. No injuries have been reported, but the fire affected six mixed-use residential properties with first-floor businesses on South Third Street, according to a statement from the Borough of Oxford, and several buildings will need to be condemned.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Chester County Emergency Services and the American Red Cross are assisting 25 displaced families, according to the statement, including offering temporary accommodations at Oxford Borough Hall and Oxford Presbyterian Church, and a shelter at Penns Grove Middle School for people who can no longer return to their homes.
“We’re providing a safe place to sleep. We’re providing them with meals, snacks, water. We’re providing them with toiletries — there’s showers in there,” Regional Communications Manager Alana Mauger said.
She said Red Cross community support staff are looking after a lot of children and offering translation services for Spanish-speaking people who were affected. The Red Cross is also providing casework and emergency emotional support, health care and financial assistance.
Mauger said it’s good to see members of the community come together to support their neighbors.
“People are anxious, but also it's really inspiring to see how the community has come out and rallied around everyone,” Mauger said. “It's just really nice to see the community wrap their arms around these people.”
Oxford Presbyterian Church and Oxford Neighborhood Services are accepting donations for displaced residents.
Starting Friday morning, Chester County Emergency Services and Oxford Neighborhood Services Center will begin to transition displaced residents from the temporary accommodations to hotel rooms for up to 30 days to they can work with families on permanent solutions, according to a statement from the Red Cross's Mauger.