Groups Offer Help to Fire Victims

Offers to help fire victims continue to pour in from businesses, organizations and various religious denominations throughout Orange County.

* The American Red Cross service center will be open from noon to 9 p.m. today through Nov. 9 at the Wells Fargo Bank building in Laguna Beach, 260 Ocean Ave. Assistance includes groceries, new clothing, rent, emergency home repairs, transportation, household items, medicines and tools. Nurses will assist with disaster-caused injuries and illnesses and can help victims replace eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, or prescriptions lost in the disaster. The Red Cross can also help those needing long-term recovery assistance.

* Disaster Application Centers open today to help fire victims apply for federal and state assistance programs. The centers will open at the Arcadia Regional Park, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia and the Laguna Beach Recreation Center, 505 Forest Ave. in Laguna Beach. The centers will remain open through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fire victims can register and apply for assistance at (800) 462-9029.

* The Federal Emergency Management Agency has the following toll-free numbers for fire victims: (800) 462-4029; (800) 462-7585 TDD; Red Cross: (800) 279-9248.

* Orange County Psychiatric Society is offering free crisis counseling by phone to fire victims and others affected by the fire. Callers to the crisis line, (714) 978-2319, will be referred to members of the Orange County Psychiatric Society. The line will be open Monday and will continue for at least three weeks. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

* A free disaster information seminar and Federal Emergency Management Agency preparation workshop will be presented by the Internal Revenue Service and California Society of Enrolled Agents today at 1 p.m. and Monday at 6 p.m. at the Chet Holifield Federal Building, 24000 Avila Road, Laguna Niguel, Second Floor Training Room. Enter by the south entrance off Aliso Creek Road, north of Design Center South. For more information call, IRS Taxpayer Education at (714) 643-4060.

* For Publication 584, “Casualty and Disaster Loss,� call the IRS at (800) 829-3676. Taxpayers who need professional assistance with their tax status can locate enrolled agents by calling (800) 424-4339.

* Children’s Hospital of Orange County is providing vouchers for clothing, household goods and furniture redeemable at the hospital’s nine thrift stores in Orange and Los Angeles counties. The hospital has made available 1,000 vouchers, worth $25 each, to the American Red Cross, Orange County office, which will distribute them to fire victims.

* The American Institute of Architects Orange County chapter is providing copies of plans for homes built in the affected areas of Laguna Beach over the past four decades. Fire victims can call (714) 557-7796 and leave their name, an address and the name of the home’s original owner, if they know it. They can visit the Costa Mesa office at 3200 Park Center Drive, Costa Mesa. AIA also has a list available of answers to the 10 most commonly asked questions Oakland homeowners had after losing their homes.

* The Apartment Assn. of Orange County has implemented the Emergency Rental Housing Referral Service to help fire victims obtain decent and affordable housing. Fire victims should call (714) 638-5550 for information on the availability of rental units in their area. Rental property owners and managers should call the same number. The service will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

* The County Health Care Agency offers the following precautions to residents and business owners returning to fire- or smoke-damaged areas:

--Food may no longer be edible and should be discarded unless it is packaged in sealed glass containers or undamaged cans and thoroughly washed before opening.

--Food in freezers should be discarded if they have an off-flavor, appearance, or smell.

--Temporary fences should be put around pools.

--Pool filtration should take place as soon as possible to avoid drownings in murky water.

--Dust masks are recommended for cleaning up ash.

--People with asthma or other chronic diseases should not be involved in the cleanup.

* Phone the Laguna Beach County Water District at (714) 494-1041 for any questions concerning water service. For information on disposing hazardous chemicals, contact (714) 667-3700. For information on swimming pool or food safety, contact (714) 667-3600.

* County Emergency Operations Center--Orange County residents and business owners who suffered damage to their homes and businesses may call the center at (714) 834-7285 to report pertinent information.